Book Review
Color Atlas Of Microsurgery
In Endodontics
Authors: Dr Syngcuk Kim with Dr Cabriele Pecora
and Dr Richard A. Rubinstein.
Published by: W.B. Saunden Company, 200 I,
a Harcourt Health Sciences Company, Philadelphia.
Available from: Harcourt Australia Pty. Ltd.,
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30-52 Smidmore Street, Marrickville, N.S.W., 2204.
Phone - (02) 95 I 7 8999; Fax - (02) 95 I7 2249.
Format: Hardback, approximate dimensions of 22cm
+
x 28cm, I5 chapters index, 172 pages, 328 colour
figures and black 81white radiographs, 83 headings,
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zyx Throughout the book the authors share their clinical experience
in the form of tips and hints. This I found of most benefn. Most
chapters include sections on hamentarium and Key Concepts,
the former lists the instruments and materials recommended by the
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authors, while the latter summarises the ideas put forward in that
chapter.
The first page of each chapter is coloured. which enhances the
aesthetics of the book and allows easier location of particular
chapters. At the end of most chapters the book also includes a list
of references, which have been termed "Suggested Readings". This
is because those references are not actually keyed to the text.
Although the book is designed to be a technique-instructiveone
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93 sub-headings, I43 "suggested readings". and not a textbook per se, I would have liked to have seen the
Recommended retail price: $445.50 (GST inclusive). references linked to the text because the authors do sometimes
Reviewed by: Dr Peter Parashos. cite certain references. On the other hand certain clinical recom-
mendations are made that are not supported by references. For
In the last 5- I0 years there have been some exciting changes example. the need to thoroughly curette periapical granulomas is
occurring in endodontics. One of these is the development of advised including removing more of the root to allow access to do
endodontic microsurgery. Materials and techniques have CM- this.
pletely changed, primarily because of new clinical aids, with the From a purist editorial point of view there are only a few
dental operatingmicroscope being a particularly important develop- instances of spelling errors and grammatical irregularities, which are
ment. Together with this improved magnification and illumination so minor that they do not detract from the quality of the book.
of the very small field in which we work, there have also been There is one instance where a figure (Fig. 5-3) appears to have
developments in microsurgical instruments. It seems that the days been mis-labelled, although it is, again, a minor problem where a
of the traditional apicectomy and apical amalgam retrosealare gone distal root apex appears to have been referred to as a mesial apex.
forever. In another figure (Fig. 13-8) the caption claims complete healing
Drs Kim, Pecora and Rubinstein are well-known names in the whereas the radiograph presented does not really support that
who's who of endodontics. Readers will remember that Professor claim. Perhaps one area that may be improved in future editions is
Kim was a visisting Federal Lecturer of the ASE Inc. some years ago. to select better radiographs because some are quite dark and it
These three endodontists have produced a v g r clinically oriented is difficult to see the features to which reference is being made.
book on endodontic microsurgery, which lives up to the title of Overall. the atlas fuHils the objective indicated in the Preface of
"Color Atlas". It is richly illustrated throughout, demonstrating .
". . to introduce such advancements to the dental commundy". For
clearly the techniques being described. The generous use of more detailed coverage of the theory behind the procedures. there
headings and sub-headings makes this a very easy book to read. are other textbooks and articles to cover those aspects. and the
The techniques are described clearly and most steps in particular "Suggested Readings" includes many. The atlas is a book that
treatment sequences are illustrated with a separate figure or should be read by all endodontic postgraduates and neophyte
radiograph making it easy to follow. In the I S chapters of the endodontists. Experienced endodontists will benefit from the book
book every aspect of relevance to endodontic microsurgery has albeit to a lesser extent than students and inexperienced clinicians.
been covered. The chapters include - Comparison of Traditional General dentists will find it interesting from the point of view of
and Microsurgery in Endodontics; Case Selection-Indications and knowingthe advances that have been made in endodontic surgery;
Contraindications; Presurgical Evaluation and Premedicatton; but unless they are e n t h u s i and perform endodontic micro-
Microsurgical Instruments; Use of the Surgical Microscope: surgery they will only benefit by being exposed to the advances in
Positioning for Surgery; Anaesthesia and Haemostasis; Soft Tissue endodontic microsurgery. and by picking up a few tips and hints.
Management-Flap Designs. Retraction and Suturing; Osteotomy Finally, the book is quite expensive but for a book with so many
and Apical Root Resection: The Resected Root Surface and Isthmus; quallty colour illustrations covering a subject so well in one book.
Retropreparation; Retrofilling Materials and Techniques; Tooth the cost is understandable.
Replantatin; Surgical Sequelae and Complications; Selected Cases
and Success of Microsurgery.
AUSTFWLW ENDODONTIC JOURNAL VOLUME 27 No 2 AUGUST 2001 07