BOOKS

Textbook of oral and maxillofacial surgery, ed 6 Custav 0. Kruger, DDS, DSc, ed 782 pages with illustrations. St. Louis, C. V. Mosby Co, 1984 This new edition of a standard text, published to update the 1979 fifth edition, cannot be recommended. The binding is poor and the paper and illustrations are inferior. Although it can be argued that there is not much new in this surgical discipline, most of the authors average an age of 70 years and much of their material is outdated. The case reports may be illustrative of enduring principles; however, they are as out-of-date as the bibliography that accompanies many of the chapters. In many chapters there is no improvement over the previous edition. Many bibliographies are obsolete. However, there are some high points: the sections on principles of surgery, prosthetic surgery, antibiotics, grafts, neurologic disorders, and salivary glands are noteworthy. The significant inadequacies include information about temporomandibular joints, cysts, sinuses, fractures, acquired defects, other trauma, and orthognathics.

adequacies have not been deleted because so little new information has been added. This edition is little better than the fifth edition, and that did not improve on what had been published in previous editions.
ERNEST SMALL, DDS
Dr. Small is ufliliated with the University of North
Carolina. School of Dentistry. Chapel Hill. NC.

Clinical pharmacology for dental professionals, ed 2 Sebastian C. Ciancio, DDS, and Priscilla C. Bourgault, PhD 391 pages with illustrations. Index. Littleton, MA, PSC Publishing Co, Inc, 1984 This is a thoughtful, well-organized book that will be helpful to the practicing dentist. The underlying thesis is to succinctly explain and apply basic principles of pharmacology to dental practice. The format is particularly noteworthy. Each chapter begins with a brief statement of a clinical situation applicable to the chapter that, in turn, is oriented to pertinent pharmacodynamics. There are also marginal notes that summarize the most important points of the chapter as well as review questions. This carefully structured arrangement of information makes for a stimulating learning experience. At the same time the book is an excellent reference source. The first two chapters discuss the principles of pharmacology that are important for an understanding of drug transport, with clear explanations of absorption and movement of drugs on to cell surfaces. There is clear description of the action of drugs, and drug-

Although the case reports may be illustrative of enduring principles, they are as out-of-date as the bibliography that accompanies many of the chapters.

food interactions are reviewed. There is also a statement on placebo and psychologic factors, which emphasizes the importance of how positive attitudes by dental personnel may improve drug response in patients. There is a comprehensive section on the drugs that are prescribed and used by the dental profession; namely, drugs affecting the autonomic systems, antimicrobial agents, analgesics, anesthetics, vitamins and minerals, fluorides, and sterilizing and disinfecting agents. A valuable section is given to consideration of drugs that may alter daily practice-anticonvulsants (phenytoin and related drugs), antihypertensive drugs histamines, and antihistamines. Other sections include organic emergency drugs and their adverse effects as well as management of drug reactions and emergencies. There are also well-structured summary tables of drug interactions. The authors have wisely included a timely chapter on drug abuse, a subject for which the dentist shares great responsibility. There is a concluding appendix with tables of nonprescription drugs, listing therapeutic groups and their clinical application, as well as other pertinent information. The book has good references at the end of each chapter that are reasonably current. A detailed index makes the content readily available.

There is so little new in this edition that it would have been better to publish a short supplement to the previous edition while a major revision was undertaken. It is unfortunate that old in-

This is a well-organized book that should help the practicing dentist apply basic principles of pharmacology to dental practice.

The opinions and comments expressed by reviewers are their own and do not represent the views of the Editors or of the American Dental Association or the organizations for which this journal is the official publication. Publishers of books are invited to submit new items for review in this section.

As stated, this book is a thoughtful, well-organized book that should be helpful to the practicing dentist.
SIDNEY EPSTEIN, DDS
D r . Epstein is clinical professor, departmeni of public health and oral hygiene, University of California. San Francisco, and director. denral department. Jewish Home for the Aged. San Francisco.

Special Care in Dentistry, September-October 1985 229