{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.016291951775822745, 'fraction_numerical': 0.0, 'mean_word_length': 4.938104448742747, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Book Review: Pulp-Dentin Biology in Restorative Dentistry

The title might initially mislead the reader into believing that this is what the book is all about. In fact, it is a comprehensive overview of how the pulp reacts to numerous physiological and pathological conditions. It brings together the current literature and presents the evidence, where it exists, in a format that is both easy to follow and enjoyable to read. The book starts by revisiting the normal structure and physiology of the pulp-dentine organ with a well-illustrated and comprehensive description. It goes on to examine the response of the dentine and pulp to tooth preparation, pulpal inflammation and dental caries. The shortcomings of the literature are discussed and details given of the difficulties in translating this information to clinical situations. For example, many studies are carried out on immature teeth with little experience of dental disease, but the clinician does not often deal with such teeth. The response of the pulp vasculature to insult is well described, giving a good insight to its complexity. The section on dental caries is particularly good and well illustrated, often disputing commonly held misconceptions about how dental caries progresses and how it should be managed. The management of toothwear and trauma, and the pulp response to it are examined. However, there are few clinical illustrations of restorative materials and procedures to treat these problems; clinicians will have to look elsewhere for these. Perhaps the area that would interest most general dentists is how the pulp reacts to restorative materials. This section of the book is quite extensive and includes direct non-adhesive restorations, direct adhesive restorations, and the role of bacteria at the tooth-restoration interface. What comes out of this above all is just how poor the literature is for many of the materials and methods we use in dentistry. The author is at pains to emphasise that more research is needed to allow us to understand fully what is going on inside teeth and how to avoid problems when we restore them. The role of calcium hydroxide in deep cavities and the evidence behind the use of adhesive materials, including bonding resins, is discussed. However, this controversial subject could have perhaps been expanded a little more, as it fails to discuss many aspects of techniques that may be of use to the reader, including the longevity of bonding agents. The final section deals with the exposed dental pulp and although it has an excellent section on dentinal bridges, it is not as comprehensive as other sections. This aspect of dentistry is routinely dealt with by clinicians and it would have been useful to expand it and introduce more of the literature available on the subject, including clinical illustrations. Apart from such minor criticisms, however, this is a book well worth reading and would be especially useful for the postgraduate student looking for a good overview of the subject or, indeed, anyone seeking to improve their knowledge.