Wuhan University’s Oral Orthodontics Team Wins the 2026 David L. Turpin Evidence-Based Research Award from “AJO-DO” Magazine.

Source: Is adenotonsillar hypertrophy associated with dentofacial morphology? A systematic review and meta-analyses

DentalGoodNews｜Recently, the team led by Professor He Hong from the Department of Orthodontics at the School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, won the 2026 David L. Turpin Evidence-Based Research Award from the "American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics" (AJO-DO) for a systematic review and meta-analysis. The award was presented during the 2026 American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Session, with collaborating expert Professor Peter Ngan from West Virginia University accepting the award on behalf of the team.

According to public information, AJO-DO is the official publication of the American Association of Orthodontists and one of the authoritative journals in the field of orthodontics. The David L. Turpin Award of AJO-DO is jointly selected by department chairs and authoritative experts in orthodontics from multiple universities in the United States and Canada, recognizing the highest-level clinical scientific research articles from the previous year. The award-winning study from the School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, is titled "Is adenotonsillar hypertrophy associated with dentofacial morphology? A systematic review and meta-analyses," officially published in November 2025 (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2025;168:524-541).

The study searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the VIP Chinese journal database, including cross-sectional studies up to November 2024. Ultimately, 36 studies were included, encompassing 8,132 children (3,854 in the ATH group and 4,278 in the control group) from 16 countries.

The research results showed that children with adenoid/tonsillar hypertrophy exhibit differences in craniofacial development across multiple dimensions compared to healthy children. In terms of skeletal morphology, the mandibular plane angle in these children is, on average, approximately 2.2° larger, indicating a more pronounced tendency for downward and backward rotation of the mandible, which is one of the common skeletal features of the clinical "adenoid face." The positions of the maxilla and mandible are also relatively more posterior, but no significant difference was found in the relative relationship between the upper and lower jaws. Regarding dentition, the risk of developing Class II or Class III malocclusion (common manifestations may include protrusion of upper front teeth or crossbite) is approximately 1.29 times that of healthy children, the risk of open bite is about 1.65 times, and the maxillary arch width is, on average, narrower by approximately 1.34 mm.

Furthermore, the research team also pointed out that the absolute magnitude of these statistical differences is relatively small compared to the normal variation range in the population, and the clinical significance should be interpreted cautiously. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) assessment indicated that most conclusions are based on "very low" or "low" certainty evidence, primarily due to the inherent limitations of causal inference in cross-sectional designs and high heterogeneity among studies (I² > 60%).

Source: Department of Orthodontics, School of Stomatology, Wuhan University

Professor He Hong, Director of the Department of Orthodontics at the School of Stomatology, Wuhan University, and Associate Professor Hua Fang, Deputy Director, are the co-corresponding authors of the award-winning paper. Associate Chief Physician Zhao Tingting and 2019 graduate student Wang Min are the co-first authors. Professor Peter Ngan from West Virginia University participated in the collaborative research. The Department of Orthodontics at the Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, is a National Key Clinical Specialty, with a long-term focus on cutting-edge fields such as pediatric dentofacial development, sleep-disordered breathing, and evidence-based orthodontics.