"This remains an excellent comprehensive textbook bringing together relevant information into one place. It is a book to use for reference, rather than an; end-to-end read, but it continues to fulfil its function amply in the increasingly complex world of the medical-dental interface."
— Reviewed by Dr Mike Pemberton, Consultant in Oral Medicine, Dental Updatem, Sept 2014

"...an extremely valuable source of information that should be in the armamentarium of any dental professional..."
— Reviewed by European Journal of Orthodontics, Feb 2015

"... seems as close as could be to a completely comprehensive overview of common and uncommon medical problems and their dental relevance."
— Reviewed by Bex Stockton on behalf of BDJ Student, February 2015

• Helps understanding of the relevant illness as identified from the patient’s history, physical examination and investigations;
• Shows readers how to present a succinct and, when appropriate, unified list of all problems that could influence oral health care and formulate a diagnosis/treatment plan for each problem;
• Emphasises the need to appreciate issues of access and informed consent, preventive oral health care and the avoidance of harm;
• Enables the reader to develop strategies to identify patients at risk of medical problems, to assess the severity of those risks and, where necessary, to recognize the need for referral;
• Places emphasis on good communication between all health-care professionals, and between HCPs and patients;
• Emphasises the need to take into account people’s cultural needs and preferences as well as deal with patients who may have additional needs such as physical, sensory or learning disabilities;
• User-friendly format allows ease of access to information whether for exam revision purposes or for a specific issue confronting staff in a busy clinical environment.
• Includes an array of new disorders ranging from hypersensitivity syndrome to neuropathic pain;
• Discusses recent updates in pharmacology and other aspects of medical intervention, including the use of biological therapies;
• Explores new areas such as cosmetic and other implants, dental materials hypersensitivity, drugs and dietary interactions and new aspects of alternative medicine;
• Other issues include elder maltreatment, care of vulnerable people, treatment of sexual minorities, new substance abuse and self-harm;
• Explores the link between periodontal infection and various systemic diseases;
• New national and international guidelines, selected recent references and up-to-date websites.

Author Information

Crispian Scully is a Director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Oral Health-General Health; and is emeritus Professor at UCL. He is Co-Editor of Oral Diseases, Medicina Oral and Associate Editor of the Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry.

Crispian Scully is Past-President of the International Academy of Oral Oncology, European Association of Oral Medicine, British Society for Oral Medicine and British Society of Disability and Oral Health, he has served as Dean in Bristol and UCL; on the General Dental Council; on the Councils of the Royals colleges in Glasgow and Edinburgh; and on committees of NICE and CRUK, He has written and edited over 45 books, written over 150 book chapters and has over 1000 papers cited on MEDLINE. He has received the CBE, University of Helsinki Medal of Honour, University of Santiago de Compostela Medal, University of Granada Medal, Fellowship of UCL, and honorary degrees from the Universities of Athens, Granada, Helsinki and Pretoria. He has received the UK Dental Award for the Most Outstanding Achievements in Dentistry, the Awards of the Spanish Society for Oral Medicine and the Hellenic Society for Oral Medicine, and the International Award of the Spanish Society for Oral Surgery.