Ann Arbor, MI — July 9, 2010 — Orthodontics faculty members of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry continue to enhance the School’s reputation for pioneering research that helps orthodontists improve the lives of their patients.

During the past 10 years, a U-M orthodontics faculty member has received the prestigious Angle Research Prize each of five times it has been presented. Awarded biennially by the Edward Angle Research Foundation, the prize is given to the author or coauthor of the most outstanding research paper published during the previous two years in The Angle Orthodontist, one of two major orthodontic journals. In addition to these five consecutive awards, Dr. Sunil Kapila, co-authored a paper that received the first Angle Research Award in 1991. Kapila has chaired the School’s Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry since 2004.

Dr. James McNamara, the Thomas M. and Doris Graber Endowed Professor of Dentistry, and Dr. Yan Gu, a visiting Scholar at the School of Dentistry and professor of orthodontics at Peking University, received the 2009 Edward H. Angle Research Prize earlier this year. Their paper, “Mandibular Growth Changes and Cervical Vertebral Maturation,” appeared in November 2007 issue of The Angle Orthodontist.

Their study detailed the craniofacial complex of 20 subjects so patterns of normal growth and remodeling of facial bones could be determined as the children grew and became young adults. The growth stages of the neck vertebra were used as indicators of the maturation of facial structures. Additional findings detailed the peak in mandibular growth at maturity.

This was the second time McNamara has received the award. He and three coauthors received the award in 2003. Other U-M School of Dentistry faculty orthodontists have received the award during the previous decade. Their names and the titles of their papers are:

• 2007, Dr. R. Scott Conley, clinical associate professor of dentistry, and coauthor Christopher Jernigan: Soft Tissue Changes after Upper Premolar Extraction in Class II Camouflage Therapy.
• 2005 (tie): Dr. R. Scott Conley and coauthor Harry Legan: Mandibular Symphyseal Distraction Osteogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment Planning Considerations.
• 2003, Dr. James McNamara and coauthors Drs. Tiziano Baccetti, Lorenzo Franchi, and Christopher Cameron: Treatment Timing for Rapid Maxillary Expansion.
• 2001, Dr. S. Jay Bowman and coauthor Dr. Lysle Johnston, Jr., U-M School of Dentistry professor emeritus of dentistry and chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry: The Esthetic Impact of Extraction and Nonextraction Treatments on Caucasian Patients.

“The very high proportion of Edward Angle Research Awards being awarded to U-M School of Dentistry faculty reflects their exemplary contributions to clinical research in orthodontics,” said Dr. Kapila. “I am very proud of the achievements of our faculty.”

Contact: Sharon Grayden, Communications Director (734) 615-2600, dentistry.communications@umich.edu, or Jerry Mastey, Editor, School of Dentistry (734) 615-1971, jmastey@umich.edu.