توضیحات

Twenty years is a long time to wait on a second edition, and it took nearly four years to organize the contents of this one. The first edition of Wiggs’s Veterinary Dentistry Principles and Practice came out in 1997, largely due in part to the tremendous knowledge and dedication of Dr. Robert Bruce Wiggs (1950–2009). Referred to by some as “the bible” of veterinary dentistry, with no irreverence intended, it was probably the most comprehensive book in that field of topic during that time. Not without its shortcomings, such as a lack of adequate figures and illustrations due to publishing restraints, as well as now aged reference listings, it still provided a wealth of information to many a “student”.

This Wiggs’s Veterinary Dentistry Principles and Practice book is a melding of keeping as many of the timeless and true concepts and knowledge, with adding in updated and contemporary viewpoints. Of course, as with any text, by the time the ink dries, there will be newer data published electronically and in journals that will update the information provided.

The second edition of Wiggs’s Veterinary Dentistry Principles and Practice literally rests on the shoulders of giants, from the first edition and stellar human dental resources, to the current knowledge provided by current guest contributors. In particular, distinct efforts were made to further bolster information about anesthesia and pain management (Chapter 9), to examine traumatic dentoalveolar injuries more closely (Chapter 6), and to dedicate a chapter to Oral and Maxillofacial Tumors (Chapter 7, with a separate chapter on related surgery).

Other chapters expand on newer techniques and resources such as restorative endodontic (Chapter 16) and periodontal therapy (Chapter 10) and data related to the application of crowns and prosthodontics for dogs (Chapter 18). Whenever possible, updated terminology (based on the American Veterinary Dental College Nomenclature resources) was integrated, as seen in the feline chapter (Chapter 20), with appropriate abbreviations in tables throughout the book. There are definitely more images and illustrations than the original edition, but there are still other texts that are known for more complete coverage of specific procedures, such as Veterinary Dental Techniques (Holmstrom, Frost, and Eisner) and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in Dogs and Cats (Verstraete and Lommer).

The step‐by‐step feature of issues of the Journal of Veterinary Dentistry is also a good resource for pictoral descriptions, and was utilized in several places in this book as well. Therefore, as these files are sent to the publisher (interestingly on the day 8 years after Dr. Wiggs’ passing), I look back at these four years with plans for when the next edition will be needed (certainly sooner than 20 years), as the future of veterinary dentistry continues to expand.

I played a part in that first edition, though it was but a portion of Dr. Wiggs’ contribution, which is why, with great respect and fond remembrance, we are pleased to launch the modified name of this text – Wiggs’s Veterinary Dentistry Principles and Practice, second edition. I am also pleased and proud to say that the veterinarians involved in this edition have agreed to donate proceeds to the Foundation for Veterinary Dentistry in Dr. Wiggs’ name and to the Robert B Wiggs endowed scholarship at Texas A&M University.