Orthodontic treatment of impacted teeth, 4th edition

Abstract

Since the publication of the first edition in 1998, this book has become a steadfast standard for specialist orthodontists, oral maxillofacial surgeons, and trainees. It is an erudite and comprehensive guide to the diagnosis and clinical management of all impacted teeth with emphasis on canine teeth. The new edition is logically divided into 21 chapters and is beautifully illustrated with over 1000 images. Since the third edition in 2012, there has been a thorough rearrangement and updating. Some sections of old chapters are now expanded as new entities, plus there are some entirely new chapters. The increase in chapters improves the flow and readability of the book. The content encompasses much of what you might expect from a well-established textbook. There is emphasis on diagnosis including 2D and 3D imaging, treatment timing and then treatment techniques for an extensive range of impaction types for all teeth (incisors, canines, premolars, and molars), including surgical exposure and treatment with both fixed and aligner appliances. Anchorage demands including the use of skeletal anchorage, biomechanics of creating space, and moving the impacted teeth are well covered. The text is supplemented with first-rate animations of clinical photographs and diagnostic imaging. There is a plethora of cases illustrating routine clinical situations but also a chapter on less common cases where difficult decisions have to be made. There are separate chapters dedicated to the root form of impacted teeth, the special challenges of treating impacted teeth associated with dentigerous cysts and caring for patients with Cleidocranial dysplasia. There is also an excellent chapter entitled ‘The Anatomy of Failure’ on patient- and clinician-dependent reasons for unfavourable treatment outcomes. Many of the chapters give an excellent historical perspective on how treatment has changed over the recent decades. With this in mind, it is to be expected that many of the references remain from the first edition. That said the author should be credited for his citation of recent scientific works and his attempt to reference the best evidence we have for different clinical scenarios.