WILLIAM R. PROFFIT, DDS, PHD
HENRY W. FIELDS, JR., DDS, MS, MSD
3rd edition. 742 pages, 1,817 illustrations. $92. 2000.
Mosby
11830 Westline Industrial Drive
St. Louis, MO 63146
(800) 325-4177; www.harcourt-international.com
Contemporary Orthodontics has become the primary orthodontic textbook for most orthodontic graduate and residency programs. In the third edition, contributors James Ackerman, L'Tanya Bailey, and Camilla Tulloch have joined Drs. Proffit and Fields to take this respected text to the next level.
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The basic organization is essentially the same as in the second edition. Most of the changes reflect the increasing importance of computer imaging and diagnostic programs in contemporary practice and the shift toward evidence-based decision making.
The text is divided into eight sections, which are further subdivided into 22 chapters; the overall sequence is so logical that it seems to make nearly intuitive sense to sharp-minded students. Beginning with an overview of malocclusion and dentofacial deformity in contemporary society, the book progresses through chapters on dentofacial development, diagnosis and treatment planning, biomechanics, appliance therapy, treatment of preadolescents, and comprehensive therapy in the early adult dentition, concluding with three chapters on adult treatment.
The current edition contains many of the same high-quality illustrations as in previous editions, but also includes a number of excellent color photographs that liven up the text considerably. Computerized self-tests, intended for instruction rather than assessment, are available from the Department of Orthodontics, University of North Carolina School of Dentistry. That bonus, coupled with the authors' tireless pursuit of excellence, ensures the preeminence of this textbook for a long time to come.
RGK