Carranza's "Clinical Periodontology"

Presentation

Clinical Periodontology — now published as Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology — is an American textbook published continuously since 1953, making it one of the oldest reference works still actively updated in dental medicine.

Authors

Fermin A. Carranza is its founding author. The most recent editions are led by Michael G. Newman, Henry Takei, and Perry Klokkevold, surrounded by a large group of international contributors — reflecting the now-collective nature of the work after more than 70 years of existence.

Content and approach

The textbook covers the entire field of clinical periodontology: anatomy and biology of the periodontium, epidemiology, diagnosis, non-surgical and surgical management, and periodontology's links to general health. It is designed both as teaching material for students and as a reference for day-to-day clinical practice — a dual purpose it has claimed since its earliest editions.

Reach and influence

Described in the literature as "the most widely used periodontics textbook in the world," it is now in its 14th edition, selected among the 2024 Doody's Core Titles in dentistry — a recognition given to works considered essential in North American academic libraries.

Conclusion

Over 70 years of continuous, regularly updated publication make it something of a living record of the discipline's evolution — each edition reflecting the state of knowledge of its time while preserving the pedagogical structure that built its reputation.