Dentistry Books

I have done my best to collect a library of dental texts for use in the classes I teach. I am also a student of dental assisting, materials and procedures. This Guide is potentially useful to the student, but suffers some problems.

First, it does not explore *how* materials or processes operate. If a student understands the function of fluoride, for example, the various brands or forms of fluoride application can be more fully appreciated.

Second, exploring various but similar brands of reasonably identical products is redundant. There are (for example) ten brands of composite presented, each of which reads like a package insert, complete with marketing catchphrases. Ingredients are included, but not what their significance, structure or function might be.

Finally, there are errors in presentation. For example, the uneven use of the terms "conditioner", "etchant" or "acid etch". They are all the same, but that point is not made in the text.

This Guide needs more work (or other textbooks) to be made useful.

Most of this has been heard and discussed while earning the degree. However, the author tries to catagorize the ideas and that is okay but I would have preferred that office managerial tasks be given more relevance. Sometimes it's a mystery as to why the office manager is there when it seems the other staff (i.e. hygenists, billers and receptionists do all the work), so having office manager tasks out-lined would have been great.

I think this is more of a gift present than a useful present.
It's written by two non-dentists and although interesting as far as thinking about word choice, it just wasn't that useful. I think it's nice to have lying around the waiting room instead of New Ideas. But if you're looking for a good book to get little kids to take dental treatment then you'll learn a pain free needle technique and more specific information on how to approach a children in the book "Building a no-fear dental practice" which IS written by dentists. A pediatric specialist even. Who USED to do all the restraining of kids and now uses general anaesthetic on only 1% of his cases. That's pretty amazing.

Dr. Quattlebaum has provided the dental practitioner and student with an excellent synopsis of the history and developement of managed care programs. But his strong, pro-managed care position would have more credibility coming from a private practioner citing peer review sources rather than a consultant to the State of California whose major reference is the National Association of Dental Plans (a dental HMO trade association). In fact, the Association of Managed Care Dentists in their current, 2000 survey states "The revenues received from managed care plans are no longer covering even marginal overhead, thereby creating a disincentive for practice expansion. Most likely this is why the vast majority of dentists reported that they are no longer signing up for new plans, and 63% have closed enrollment to some plans presently in their offices." Perhaps Dr. Quattlebaum should actually practice what he preaches for a year and attempt to run a real office at reduced fees before writing a book.

This is a flipchart,not a book. Though nicely illustrated, is very limited in it information on the subject of implants. It's good for the first time patient who wants the very basic information while at the waiting room of the periodontist. The periodontist should buy this, not the patient.

Attractive layout, nice diagrams, broad coverage of areas. Very poor information. Lack of basic info. For example, according to the book, the ideal prep for a pfm is 360 shoulder with bevel. I don't think anyone would seriously use this. Discussion of luting and cements for all ceramics is cursory. In conclusion: there are much better sources out there for the money. Steer clear.

Dental techniques described are not contemporary. They are mostly history, dealing with procedures involving gold alloys and polymer veneers (described even with flask technique. No trace of dental ceramics.

i was disappointed with this book. it's generally out of date & is at times a shameless plug for specific products & manufacturers.

This guide provides a photographic essay of issues in periodontal care, assuming that these pictures alone tell a complete story. I found it to be incomplete.

Being someone who had never had confidence in periodontal examinations, I was finally confronted with having to make an evidence based justification for the things my dentist's staff was telling me.

Part of the problem came from having the practice of dentistry do a "high-g" turn between several visits that were a few years apart. Suddenly there was this periodontal examination. Unfortunately, it was a new dentist in a new city and they apparently assumed that I knew what was going on. Well, I didn't and it was all black magic as far as I was concerned.

I came to a point where the Hygenist was no longer making any sense to me and then there were numbers and to me what were wild claims being uttered in the office that I unfamiliar with. The first time I asked some very pointed questions to which I did not receive good answers. At the time this was staff, not the dentist.

So, I ended up in a place where I didn't believe anything I was being told. Having a scientific background, the mantra is that if this is in fact science, I will be able to do an independent study and verification of anything I was being told. So, I put the dentist office aside and started researching what was being taught in dental school.

I ended up buying the second year textbooks and finding and reading the several hundred pages that were relevant to my concerns. I also found the numbers and precise explanations as to what they meant. I found the instruments and precise explanations as to how these are used. I found treatment methods and was able to read concise explanations of what the school of dentistry expects in a complete care regimen from the perspective of the patient. I also read the conclusions about non-surgical treatment for the issues of concern. Then I went and did literature searches for the specific treatment being recommended for me, found the papers, and read them ... so the fog was beginning to clear. What was also important with this reading were the detailed discussions about what the treatment was intended to do and the half dozen things that could prevent it from working.

What I also discovered was that how my hygienist had been trained was different from how my dentist had been trained. A number of things that had occurred to me about tooth and gum care were discussed in the text books and specific recommendations were made. My hygienist had dismissed these things when I had discussed them with her. I was reminded of a phrase that one of my engineering professors had written into the title of a paper ... "of witchcraft and old wives tales." All this means is that someone had decided that hygienists didn't need the same depth of training as dentists and somewhere along the way, the distillation process was discarding important details ... at least as my reading was now beginning to inform me.

A summary of the dentist's level of detail was what I expected to find in this patient guide. This guide was inadequate for the kinds of questions to which I needed answers.

I would strongly encourage patients concerned with their care to take the time, dig out the materials, and do the reading when they have issues with how they are being advised.

For me the end result was to follow the treatment prescribed by dentist and then to carefully modify my care regimen so that it was in compliance with the guidance from the textbooks. This also means that I end up with something that doesn't take several hours out of my day to accomplish.

Halfway through the treatment process I asked the hygienist to redo the exam on the untreated side. The purpose of this request was to get some idea of the effectiveness of the modified care regimen. The conclusion of this exam was that the routine was doing for me what I needed it to.

I have this book in front of me right now. I was looking for a book to explain to my children what I would be learning when I go to school. I believe it's very informative for the audience it was written for. In it the author does state that 2-4 years of college is necessary to become a dental hygienist. I believe the title is misleading though, and needs to be revised. Otherwise it is very appropriate for children 8-12yrs old as it is written for.

I feel the release of this book is an outrage. As a dental hygienist getting ready to graduate from college it makes me furious to think that they would reduce my 4 years of college and $40,000 career to a $19.00, 6th grade reading level manual. However, I am not only furious becuase it affects me and my career, but because it effects the general public and the quality of care they will be receving from a manual educated dental hygienist, or dental assistant for that matter. And sorry, but rubber cup polishing does not equal debridement. By attempting to lower the education requirements of dental hygienists they are risking the lives of dental patients. Ever heard of bacteremia, adrenal insufficiency or Hyperglycemic shock? Or how about the periodontium and the trauma that can be induced by uneducated therapy? I am sure this manual does not address these issues, or how to handle any of these situations; so how could these manual trained personel possibly give proper care for patients? I have an idea while their at it why dont they reduce the education of dentists and physicans to two manuals after all they only go to school three to four years longer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is a shame that the publisher chose to print this book by these authors which is so misleading to the public. A dental hygienist MUST succesfully complete 2-4 years of college at an accredited Dental Hygiene program and succesfully pass 3 exams.--NATIONAL (400 question exam), --REGIONAL (Writen case study exam. We then must complete an exam, x-rays and clean a live patients teeth in a controlled, timed clinical setting. Then at least two examiners review your treatment.) --STATE (written exam which is given by the state over their regulations). After PASSING all of these exams the state will then issue you a license to practice Dental Hygiene in that state. We are then required to earn a certain number of continuing education credits per year in order to maintain our licenses. So if you are thinking of purchasing this book...it is a waste of your money. It is misleading and poorly done. If you want a career in Dentistry without a college education...then try Dental ASSISTING.

For the people who feel this book is false. They obviously have not read or looked at the contents. This book DOES stress that at least 2 years of college education is required (Assoiciates Degree In Dental Hygiene) to be a Dental Hygienist. The book is well done and aimed at the grade school audiance.

This book is an outrage to the entire Dental Hygiene profession! Registered Dental Hygienists work very hard to obtain a license and keep their licenses.Not only do we have to take a series of exams we must keep our education current.You need an (associates) college degree from an accredited Dental Hygiene school in order to become a Dental Hygienist. It is a very challenging and rewarding career that I worked very hard for in COLLEGE!!!