Article
In its fifth edition, Littlewood and Mitchell's excellent textbook, provides the latest instalment summarizing core topics within the specialty of orthodontics.
This 25-chapter book gives a comprehensive overview of the essentials of orthodontics and, as such, is frequently used by dental students, at undergraduate level, by orthodontic therapists and also postgraduate orthodontic students at the start of specialty training. It is also a very superb resource for general dental practitioners looking to refine and refresh their knowledge with a succinct, evidence-based text.
This latest edition provides a complete update of current practices and the comprehensive text is complemented with 700 high-quality photographs and diagrams, plus many patient case studies allowing the reader an easily accessible overview of key topics, delivered in easily digestible chunks.
Two new chapters: ‘Hypodontia and orthodontics’ and ‘Clear aligners’ are an excellent addition to this book. Removable orthodontic aligner knowledge is essential for all members of the team, now that patients are bombarded with direct-to-consumer advertising regarding this treatment option. As a newly qualified dentist, I found this chapter particularly useful as my undergraduate training primarily focused on the general principals of assessment, and more traditional orthodontic treatments.
The text develops in a logical fashion from the rationale for treatment and its aetiology, before devoting chapters to different types of malocclusion. It finishes by applying more complicated concepts to the field with a variety of complex cases, such as hypodontia, and cleft lift and palate cases. This progression engages the reader, ensuring the topics build upon each other. It also provides updates with respect to changes to current practice, teaching and the use of technology within the field of orthodontics, which was also extremely interesting.
I particularly enjoyed the clear layout from learning objectives, keys and further reading citations enclosed within each chapter. This allowed me to review my learning in a clear manner and increase my evidence-based knowledge through, for example, cited Cochrane reviews. References also came with electronic hyperlinks at the end of each chapter.
This book offers a well-organized overview of orthodontics and has rightly become essential reading for both undergraduate and postgraduate students of orthodontics.
This latest edition continues to prove itself an up-to-date resource comprising comprehensive evidence-based discussions, useful as either a starting point to learning or to build on current orthodontic knowledge. It has found its place as a fundamental textbook to introduce the entire subject of orthodontics to interested clinicians. I would strongly recommend it to anyone at the start of their orthodontic journey.