'Achieving Oral Health' is now in its third edition having been extensively revised.  This well-established book provides an excellent introduction to the understanding of the role and importance of psychology in dentistry for undergraduate dental students.

• CONTENTS: Foreword (Professor F C Smales); Acknowledgements; 1. Challenges for modern dentistry: Achieving oral health; Aims of the book; References; 2. The social context of oral health: Definitions of health; What is oral health? Variations in oral health; Social class; The contribution of the dentist to achieving oral health; Summary; Practice implications; References; 3. Lay and professional contributions to oral health: Formal and informal health care activity; Health behaviour and illness behaviour; Accessing primary dental care; Becoming a dentist; Summary; Practice implications; References; 4. Helping patients to achieve oral health: Models of health behaviour; The educational approach; The motivational approach; Designing a preventative programme; Summary; Practice implications; References; 5. The nature and causes of anxiety: The nature of anxiety; The causes of anxiety; Summary; Practice implications; References; 6. Alleviating anxiety: Modelling; Reducing uncertainty; Emotional support; Relaxation; Cognitive approaches; Choosing between interventions; Summary; Practice implications; References; 7. Pain: The experience of pain; Measuring pain; Alleviating pain; Summary; Practice iomplications; References; 8. Special groups: Orthodontics; Elderly patients; Patients with handicaps; Mental health problems; Summary; Practice implications; References; 9. Communication and consent in dental practice: Communication; Teaching communication skills; Ethical issues; Summary; Practice implications; References; Index.

Ray Croucher PhD Senior Lecturer in Dental Public Health, Department of Dental Public Health, St. Bartholmew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London