This self-assessment book is meant to test the knowledge of the reader and to promote further study. It is comprised of 228 clinical cases and associated questions to serve as both a challenge and a review. It is not an in-depth textbook and is neither systematic nor comprehensive. However, when used in combination with other reference texts, it is an interesting way to evaluate and expand your knowledge base.
The book is formatted to have 2 to 3 clinical cases/questions per page with the answers on the reverse of the page. The questions are in random order and cover a broad range of topics from exotic and large animals, to the basics such as instruments and techniques, to more advanced endodontic procedures, even including questions about embryogenesis and developmental abnormalities. It also does a good job of covering common everyday topics such as dental home care information for clients, periodontal disease, and resorptive lesions.
The book has a lot of pictures which is a big asset and very helpful for learning. It also has a list of suggested reading material to aid in further study. Since the cases are random, it can be difficult to find information if you have a specific question, but there is a classification of questions (both species-specific and topic-based) as well as an Index at the back for quick reference.
This book would be most useful for a student learning about dentistry, as well as for the general practitioner who has some down-time and wants to brush up on their knowledge and identify areas in which they are weak and could use improvement. It would not be very helpful if you had a specific problem/case and wanted a comprehensive study into that particular issue.
The strengths of this book are the pictures and the case-based approach, which lends itself to critical thinking and forces the reader to analyze a case and come up with a diagnosis/ treatment plan, etc. This is a much more interesting methodology than simply reading a comprehensive dental textbook. I liked how the book included some cases of oral pathology as a symptom of a systemic problem, such as oral ulcerations in a dog with systemic lupus erythematosus. Some unique cases are documented from which I learned something new, such as the condition of sialodenosis.
The biggest weakness for me was the focus placed on advanced procedures, both surgical and endodontic e.g., root canal therapy, which are not practical for a general practitioner. More space could have been used for topics such as extraction techniques.
Overall, the case-based approach was an interesting presentation of a difficult topic, but it’s value as a comprehensive reference text for daily use in general practice is limited.