Glass Ionomer Cement. Alan D. Wilson and John W. McLean, Chicago: Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc., 1988. 280 Pages, 439 illustrations, indexed. Price $88.00.

Two of the pioneers of glass ionomer development have combined their extensive knowledge and expertise to pro- duce a text of considerable depth and breadth.

The first eight chapters are devoted to a discussion of the development of current glass ionomer technology, with em- phasis on the setting chemistry and the physical and handling properties of the materials. Although some of this material may be beyond the understanding of many clini- cians, the chapters do explain and reinforce the need for a strict adherence to clinical protocol when dealing with glass ionomers.

The last half of the book is devoted to the clinical uses of glass ionomers including the silver cerment ionomers. Their uses as bases, luting agents, and definitive restorative mate- rials are discussed in detail with step-by-step directions. Clinical photographs and illustrations make the techniques described easy to understand and are of the high quality ex- pected from the Quintessence Publishing Company.

The rapid evolution of glass ionomer technology makes a clinically oriented text difficult to produce. This problem is exemplified by the authors’ protocol for etching the glass ionomer base in the “Sandwich Technique,” when, indeed, recent research has raised questions concerning the need for this step. Overall, this book is extremely current and would be an asset to any dental library.

W. FRANK CAUGHMAN, D.M.D., M.ED. DEPARTMENTOF RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY MEDICAL COLLEGE OFGEORGIA SCHOOL OFDENTISTRY AUGUSTA,GA 30912

Essentials of Complete Denture Prosthodontics. 2nd ed. Sheldon Winkler, D.D.S., Editor, with 26 contribu- tors, 480 pages, B&W illustrations. Softbound. PSG Pub- lishing, Littleton, Mass. Price $49.95.

The second edition of this text rejoins other major works in the field of complete denture textbooks. Seven years after the first, the second edition has a new look, revisions of many chapters, several new contributors, and a new publisher.

Overall, the book is physically attractive and compact. It is illustrated with photographs and line drawings and printed on glossy paper. Most illustrations have been con- tinued from the previous edition. On comparison, however, some photographs appear to have somewhat less resolution in this printing. The line drawings are excellent. The type size is smaller than first edition. This edition has a soft cover binding.

The text is organized into four parts, as was the first edi- tion: an anatomic and physiologic description of the edentu- lous patient, denture construction procedures, patient and professional denture maintenance, and a concluding section concerning special techniques and problems. This format

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permits coverage of’ a wide -ange ~.)f t,;p:cs ‘ri 3ri .:;deriy ‘;e- quence.

The Introduction is the same as the former edil,ion. !n Section I, the chapters on Anatomy and Physiology. and Re- sidual Ridge Reduction are essentially unchanged. The chapter on Oral Aspects of Sy-stemic Disease in the first. edi- tion has been omitted. Information on systemic disease does not appear elsewhere in the second edition. Relocated in this section is a newly authored chapter on Kut.rition that focIuses entirely on the oral tissues.

In Section II: Denture Construction, there have been or- ganizational, content, and author changes. Leading of?’ the section is a new chapter by new authors on Diagnosis and Treatment Planning. The following chapter, Preparing t.he Mouth for Dentures, discusses surgical correction, and the &material has been abridged from the first edition. Similar!y, the succeeding chapter on Preventing and Treating Abused Oral Tissues has been retitled and shortened from the first edition.

The next three chapters, Making Edentuious Impressions, Posterior Palatal Seal, and Recording Bases and Occlusion Rims, remain fundamentally the same save for a feiv addi- tional literature citations.

The chapter on .4rticulators is mentioned in the preface as one that has been expanded. Most. enlargement is due to the inclusion of new instruments from known manufacturers. A description of the Panadent instrument and the Pantronic electronic pantograph has been added. Instructions for commonly used school instruments are covered in extensive detail.

Recording Edentulous Jaw Relationships has been mini- mally reorganized and includes detailed descriptions and instructions for several new facebows. The chapter on .4nte- rior Tooth Selection remains basically the same? as dots the

following chapter on Complete Denture Occlusion. The preface indicates that the next chapter, Arrangement

of Posterior Teeth, has been “lengthened siightly.” The nu- cleus of information and illustrations have been drawn from Ortman’s original article (J PROSTHE~ TINT 1971;25:121- 38). In the previous edition, the next chapt;er was on \:erifi- cation ofJaw Relation Records, which has been omit ted from this edition as a chapter topic. The following chapter on the Trial Denture is unchanged, except for inclusion of six paragraphs regarding verification of maxil!omandibular rec- ords. The topic of Laboratory Procedure Authorization has been abbreviated to only include compiete denture fabrics- tion.

The chapter on Processing I)entures has been rewritten with substantive changes. Descriptions of t-he ldxJK?.?Ory steps in denture processing are compiete and concise. Con- cluding this section is Denture Insertion, which is she same as the first edition.

Section III: Maintenance of Comp1et.e Dentures hei: al- most no changes except for brief inclusions of new materials. ‘The chapter on Relining and Rebasing Techniques is both comprehensive and descriptive.

The last section is concerned with special techniques and problems. Immediate Dentures has new authors and has been condensed from two chapters into one. Although the approach differs slightly from the first edition, there has been no significant loss of important details. The next chap- ters, the Interim Denture (retitled from Transitional Den- ture) and Overdentures, remain fundamentally unchanged. Not so for the chapter on Maxillofacial Prosthetics, whose author has done a skillful job presenting the material graph- ically and verbally. Treatment of the Single Complete Max- illary Denture is unchanged and the material on Resilient Liners appeared in the former edition’s chapter on Elas- tomers.

The discussion of Implants has a new author and a new perspective. The subject has been shortened from two chap- ters in the first edition, but without sacrifice. An objective classification of implant forms is presented with excellent descriptions and examples.

The last chapter in this section concerns the geriatric complete denture patient. Updated information presented in that chapter confirms that our population is aging. The geriatric patient, then, may be more routine than special. With that in mind, this minimally changed chapter could well be advanced to the section describing the edentulous patient.

In conclusion, the text is a useful one, especially when its breadth and scope are considered. Topics not discussed in other contemporary texts are presented. Several chapters are capable of standing alone on their own merits. Like all texts, this one has a philosophical point of view. The editor has done a good job of weaving the biologic theme through all sections of the numerous contributors.

RICHARD S.MCGUCKIN, D.D.S. DEPARTMENTS OF ORAL BIOLOGY/ MEDICAL COLLEGE OF GEORGIA SCHOOL )F DENTISTRY AUGUSTA, GA 30912

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