Periodontal plastic surgery

All practitioners, at some time or another, consider writing a book about their clinical experiences but quickly realise the folly of such an enterprise. One can only admire these two authors who have carried through such a project. The work of Alain Borghetti and Virginie Monnet-Corti is as praiseworthy as the result is outstanding. It has undoubtedly needed much determination to enthuse their team of authors, much talent to write and much sacrifice of much time, to bring together the complete work around this attractive theme. The result is an opus of high quality, original, very complete and is a tribute to French periodontology.

Until now, we have not had a book in the French language that provides so much information on practical aspects of periodontal surgery. It is not appropriate to provide an exhaustive review of all the various techniques available to clinicians that are aimed at satisfying the aesthetic demands of their patients. The great talent of the authors has been to approach this subject in a scientific manner and avoid the criticism of those who consider that the practice of periodontology should be limited to a single treatment for periodontal diseases. Reparative periodontal surgery does exist and finds a place in daily practice, not only in specialist practice but also in that of the general practitioner engaged in multidisciplinary oral rehabilitation.

The detailed referencing and the quality of the photographs confirms the clinical experience of the authors, demonstrates the efficacy of their practice and gives the reader an impression of simplicity that demystifies delicate periodontal surgery. The text, which is both detailed and thought-provoking, dissects all the techniques, details their indications and is complemented by simple and informative diagrams to illustrate the cases presented.

In order to guarantee the reliability of a technique it is not enough to present clinical results. It is also essential to have the scientific backing that only an extensive review of the literature can provide. In this book, each theme is analysed in detail and tables are provided that clearly summarise the results of the available clinical studies.

A critique without criticism lacks credibility. One could dispute several minor details, reproach inconsistency in one or other chapter, express disappointment on coverage or format, prefer a different summary which would present the problems before their solutions. However, these are nothing beside the totality of information that is presented and which makes this work an essential tool for whoever wishes to practice periodontology.

Finally, a pat on the back to Jean-Luc Sauvan who, amongst those who have contributed to this work has distinguished himself by writing a important chapter on periodontitis in the child and the interrelationship of orthodontic repositioning of tissues and mucogingival surgery. I hope that the other collaborators will forgive me for not mentioning their names but they also have all contributed to the building of this edifice by bringing to it their own solid contributions. I congratulate them for having participated in this collective work and I simply regret, by jealousy, not having been part of it myself !

Congratulations, therefore, to our two colleagues from Marseilles and their friends, not forgetting the Editor-in-Chief of the series, Henri Koskas, who has tirelessly pursued his mission of the promotion of periodontology over the last 20 years with such panache and by badgering French authors to bring about such work.