Int. J. Oral Surg, 1981: 10: 384-385

HISTORY OF DENTISTRY

HOFl"MANN-AXTHELM, WALTER: History ofDentistry. 435 pages and 529 illustrations.Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc. Chi­cago, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo,1981.

One hundred years ago a dentist fromQuincy, Illinois, U.S.A., with the name ofThomas Lewis Gilmer became the first tosuggest performing an intermaxillary fixa­tion in the treatment of fractures of themandible. Ninety seven years ago the NewYork surgeon William Stuart Halstad madethe first successful mandibular block withcocaine. Although he later became addictedto cocaine, it was the same Halsted who in­vented the rubber glove in 1890. These andnumerous other exciting facts may be foundin this outstanding Quintessence publicationby the Professor of the History of Medicinefrom the Free University in Berlin, WalterHoffmann-Axthelm. The book appeared inGerman in 1973. The present edition is notonly a translation but a rewritten editionwith many additions. Anyone interestedin the history of our profession as weIlas the complete world of dentistry shouldadd this book to his library.

E. HJ!'iSRTING-HANsEN

Copenhagen, Denmark

DENTAL IMPLANTS

HEIMKE, G.: Dental implants. Materials andSystems. Carl Hanser Verlag, Miinchen,Wien, 1980. DM 54.

Pertinent literature dealing with relevantproblems in the field of implantology issparse. This book is a concentrate from asymposium on dental implants held in Hei­delberg in 1979 on "Theoretical Considera-

Book Reviews

tions and Clinical Applications of Oral Im­plants". Sixteen papers presented at the con­ference are published in this book dealingwith compatibility problems of different ma­terials, the results of experimental as well asof clinical implant studies. The quality of thepapers are of high standard and of scientificvalue. These papers are of great value inthis particular field which has been, andstill is, dominated by clinical reports oftenof poor scientific quality. The authors dis­cuss the state of our present knowledge andsuggest improvements and future trends forfurther progress. In my opinion three papersare clinically of special interest: one papertaking up clinical testing of various proce­dures for 'implantations in the traumaticallyinjured dentition; one discussing clinicalexperiences with intramobile cylinder im­plants; and one presenting clinical experien­ces with sintered calcium phosphate as oralimplant material. This volume is highly reocommended and is undoubtedly of interestfor clinicians and colleagues working withoral implantology problems.

HANS REIDAR HAAN)ES

Oslo, Norway

ATLAS ON ORAL PRECANCER

BURKHARDT, A. & MAERKER, R.: Vor - undFriihstadien des Mundhohlenkarzinomas.Farbatlas. 186 pages, 252 illustrations.Carl Hauser Verlag, Miinchen, Wien.Price 188 DM.

Arne Burkhardt, who recently published amonumental monograph on oral leuko­plakias, has now - in collaboration withMaerker - produced an outstanding atlas onoral precancer. Throughout the book, theclinical pictures are on the left- and photo­micrographs on the right-hand page. Thisapproach is supported by the column titles

which on the left-hand page give the clinicaldiagnosis, and on the right-hand side givethe histologic diagnosis. The au thors followthe classification of BANOCZY & SUGAR butgive a conversion table for the classifica­tion used by the Copenhagen group since1963. The Atlas begins with an informativechapter on the normal oral mucosa from aclinical and histological point of wiew. TheWHO definition of "leukoplakia" as a clini­cal concept is followed. The illustrations areexellent and the clinical pictures of a rareuniformity. Also the photomicrographs aresharp and true in color. As a number of oralcancers present themselves as leukoplakias,a series of pictures illustrates this fact. Thereviewer noticed only one thing lacking: athorough discussion of erythroplakia, which,in the next edition, ought to have specialsection. At the end of the Atlas there is alarge chapter on differential diagnoses, com­prising eleven diseases. If one has workedactively in the field of oral precancer it isnatural that certain points of view in theAtlas can come under discussion. A discus­sion of such controversial concepts willoften be fruitful. The Atlas can whole­heartedly be recommended. It is expensive,but it is worth its price.

J. J. PINDBORG

Copenhagen, Denmark

ATLAS ON IMPLANTS

BABBUSCH, C. A.: Surg ical atlas of dentalimplant techniques. 326 pp. Illustrated, colorplates . W. B. Saunders Company,Philadelphia, 1980. Price £ 32.00.

The author is a well-experienced oral andmaxillofacial surgeon , who has been workingwith implantology for many years. This ex­perience forms the sound basis for this well­written book dealing with a very controversialsubject. Emphasis is laid upon the selection ofthe implant patient with regard to physical

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condition ; one could wish that the importanceof a normal psychologic status of the patienthad been stressed. The endosteal blade-vent andvitreous carbon implants, the mandibular sub­periosteal, mandibular staple bone plate andmucosal inser ts are all dealt with in individualchapters with numerous illustrations and muchimportant technical advice. It is noteworthythat subperiosteal implants in the upper j awarenot even mentioned; if this reflects the opinionof the author that subperiosteal implants shouldnot be used in the maxilla, the reviewer agreescompletely. An appendix of 55 pages withreferences adds to the value of a book, whichcan be recommended.

E. HJ0RTING-HANSUN

Copenhagen , Denmark

THE DISEASES OF THE T-M JOINT

SCHUCHARDT, K. & SCHWENZER, N.: Er­krankungen des Kiefergelenkes. Fortschritteder Kiefer und Gesichts-Chirurgie. BandXXV. Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart-NewYork , 1980. Price DM 224.-.

Each year the congress of the DeutschenGesellschaft fur Mund-Kiefer- undGesichtschirurgie is mainly devoted to onetopic. In 1979 the T-M joint was the chosentopic. All congress contributions from the last25 years have been published in the"Fortschritte"; this conference book contains51 contributions on the T-M joint. It isimpossible to review all of these in detail ; anyaspect including radiology , traumatology, func­tional disorders and tumors is represented byseveral contributions. The illustrations are of avery high quality, and so is the printing. Theseyear books are to be recommended. They arepublished in German, but would reach a muchgreater proportion of the professional world ifthere was an English abstract after eachcontribution.

E. HJ0RTING-HANSEN

Copenhagen, Denmark