Integrated Clinical Orthodontics

VINOD KRISHNAN, BDS, MDS, MOrth RCS
ZE'EV DAVIDOVITCH, DMD, Editors

528 pages. $149.99. 2012.
Wiley-Blackwell, 10475 Crosspoint Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46256. 
(800) 434-3422; www.wiley.com.

One of the most rewarding treatments I experienced as an orthodontic resident involved a young lady with a unilateral cleft lip and palate. From the day we met until the day before her appliances were removed, I never saw her smile. No matter how hard I tried or how many jokes I told, her self-consciousness would not permit her to show her teeth. The day the braces came off and composite veneers were constructed on her peg-shaped teeth, she let down her guard, gave me her first smile with a tear in her eye, and said thank you.

Though the case turned out quite well, I know many of the problems I encountered could have been avoided if I had been able to consult a textbook like Integrated Clinical Orthodontics during that time. As the authors point out, our patients all vary from one another on molecular, functional, and esthetic levels, and thus require treatment approaches specific to their individual needs. Each of this book's 25 chapters focuses on a different specialty that interacts directly with orthodontics, written by experts in their respective fields. Considering the high caliber of contributing authors and the breadth of knowledge being shared, this will undoubtedly become a standard resource for interdisciplinary treatment planning.

Topics discussed include anomalies in growth and development, cleft lip and palate, orofacial deformities, lasers in orthodontics, skeletal anchorage, tissue engineering, stem-cell therapy, and TMD. Chapters are also dedicated to the benefits of consulting with other medical and dental practitioners, including otolaryngologists, endocrinologists, clinical geneticists, pediatricians, nutritionists, pediatric dentists, oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and general dentists. The book's strong emphasis on the interaction of orthodontists and other medical professionals makes for a thought-provoking and captivating text. In addition, each subject is augmented by clinical cases with excellent photographs and radiographs.

This exceptional textbook will be a valuable resource for every orthodontist and resident, especially when faced with such challenging clinical situations as my cleft-palate case. 

MICHAEL MERU, DDS