R. M. Basker, J. C. Davenport, J. M. Thomason. Wiley-Blackwell price £46.50; pp 288 ISBN

9781405192613

All dentists know that providing complete dentures to patients can at times be highly problematic. This established textbook, now in its fifth edition, recognises this and aims to provide a very readable and practical account of all stages of complete denture provision. This book will be ideal for dental students, practising dentists, dental technicians and clinical dental technicians.

The beginning of the book sets the scene for the reader with coverage of the demographics and characteristics of the edentulous population. There then follows an excellent section covering the transition between the dentate and edentulous state. Here, the value of transitional partial dentures and overdenture abutments are expounded. These techniques are typically not covered in great detail in the busy undergraduate curriculum and so this is a very welcome section. Also here, and new to the fifth edition, is a brief but important section covering implant-retained complete dentures. We know that implant-retained restorations are becoming more widely available and accepted and so this is a useful addition to the book. Chapters covering the mechanics of complete dentures and the physiology of jaw relationships follow from this.

These introductory chapters lead into the clinical aspects of complete denture provision. The reader is taken on a journey from assessment of the patient through to the fitting and review of the prostheses. Thus, there are sections covering investigation of any existing dentures, pre-prosthetic treatment of any complicating oral pathology, impression-making, recording the jaw relationship, trial insertion, fit and review. Each section is seasoned with useful and very practical clinical tips. Common procedures, for example copying dentures, are described well, whist areas typically considered to be in the realms of the specialist, for example recording the neutral zone, are also covered in good detail such that a general practitioner may well have the confidence to provide levels of care not experienced in the past.

The last chapter of the book deals comprehensively with problem-solving in relation to complete dentures. The aetiology, prevention and management of all the common denture problems are succinctly approached. This is an especially useful section.

Overall, this is an accomplished textbook. It is packed with great clinical advice and the clinician reading this is bound to gain much useful knowledge about this exacting subject. I wholeheartedly recommend this to dental students and practising clinicians.