Author Q&A: Aws Alani and Mahul Patel

2 hours ago

6 2 minutes read

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Adhesive Techniques in Restorative Dentistry, part of the BDJ Clinician’s Guides series, was published in late 2025 and will be reviewed in the BDJ later this year.

We spoke to the book’s authors, Aws Alani (pictured, left) and Mahul Patel (pictured, right), to find out more about it.

Why should people read this book?

Over the course of our careers both of us have seen the evolution of adhesive dentistry since our undergraduate phantom head training days at King’s College London (KCL) in the late 1990s. During this time clinical operative techniques have been innovated, some of which have come to realise success and have been adopted by the profession, whilst others have been discarded. This book is a compendium of those successful adhesive techniques that we have both felt during our careers were worthwhile and importantly provided predictable results for clinicians and the patient. With well over 1,000 clinical photographs, the adhesive techniques are described in a detailed stepwise manner, clearly and with purpose, to provide the reader with the knowledge to replicate our work.

This book is aimed at colleagues that are at undergraduate and postgraduate level, up to and including experienced and specialist clinicians. It serves as a point of reference for educators and trainers who want to embrace adhesive techniques that achieve maximum benefit whilst achieving minimal invasiveness to ensure a sustainable functional and aesthetic outcome for the patient.

Why did you decide to write this book?

We have ‘grown-up’ with utilising the BDJ and the original iterations of the Clinician’s Guide series since our days as undergraduates at KCL. Hours spent in the library, revising for exams or refreshing prior to clinic utilising this book series are a memory that is unlikely to be erased. We have always wanted to emulate those authors with a publication of our own whilst also showcasing the standard of dentistry we were keen on upholding. We both feel we have achieved that with a book of ten chapters that comprehensively describe the rationale for adhesive dentistry in restorative dentistry, to the variety of its applications from diagnostic procedures, treating root canal treated teeth, managing occlusal issues, tooth surface loss to optimising aesthetics, to mention a few.

Did you enjoy writing the book?

We have been through a myriad of emotions to be honest! With such a huge project, ensuring that the text has balance and the graphical depictions were worthy made the current achievement worthwhile, but a task achieved for reward and less so for pleasure. With every figure we spent hours of contemplation, discussion and sometimes heated discussion to conclude the decision-making process for inclusion. Our mutual respect for our differing practising backgrounds and friendship held strong during those moments.

Can you share some content highlights?

Each chapter is a standalone piece of work that provides the reader with our unique collaborative opinion and expertise on various aspects of restorative dentistry. We cannot highlight any specific areas as the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

How did you become involved in writing the book?

We worked together for many years. We had the idea of a book that was technique based rather than text heavy and reference laden. I contacted Stephen Hancocks [former Editor-in-Chief] at the time and we both met with Springer on numerous occasions to discuss the project. After much reflection we committed to a book that we felt would change the perception of adhesive dentistry for our colleagues, students or otherwise.