Ann Arbor, MI — May 15, 2011 — A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s graduate orthodontics program received a major research award from the American Association of Orthodontists.

Dr. Brad Hudson was presented with the 2011 Milo Hellman Award during the organization’s annual session May 14-17 in Chicago.  The prestigious research award from the AAO recognizes the most meritorious research paper submitted by a resident in a graduate orthodontics program in the U.S. and Canada.  Hudson's paper was titled:  Local Delivery of Recombinant Osteoprotegerin Protein Prevents Post-Orthodontic Relapse.

“I am honored that my thesis was chosen by the AAO for the Milo Hellman Award,” Hudson said, “and am excited to bring this award back to Michigan.”  Citing the School of Dentistry’s strong tradition of clinical and research success, Hudson noted that two of his professors, Drs. Sunil Kapila and James McNamara, won the award, in 1995 and 1973, respectively.

"Improving Our Understanding of Orthodontic Relapse"

Relapse is a significant orthodontic problem following treatment with braces.  Believing patients and clinicians would prefer to rely less on removable retainers because they can be lost or broken, and using knowledge of cellular bone biology, Hudson designed a research initiative to test whether the local application of an important regulator of bone metabolism, osteoprotegerin (OPG), could enhance stability following orthodontic treatment.

Hudson said his research revealed that by using OPG, orthodontists may be able to keep a patient’s teeth stable and prevent the teeth from moving back to a crooked position following orthodontic treatment.  “This is a significant discovery,” Hudson said, “because it improves our understanding of orthodontic relapse and opens the door to the possibility of using pharmaceuticals to enhance orthodontic retention.”

“I am very proud of the caliber and depth of work that Dr. Hudson performed in his research and congratulate him for his accomplishment,” Kapila said.  “This award is yet another in a string of research successes by our students and faculty in this highly competitive research environment.”  Kapila, chair of the Department of Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry, and Dr. Nan Hatch, assistant professor, mentored Hudson’s research.

Hudson earned his dental degree from the University of Tennessee in 2006 and a master’s degree in orthodontics from the University of Michigan last year.  He is now in private practice in New York City and on Long Island.