I would like to thank the Guardian for highlighting the dangers of “orthotropics” in its interview with Mike Mew (‘There’s no excuse for ugly people’: controversial dentist Mike Mew on how ‘mewing’ can make you more attractive, 17 May). Orthotropics is a form of modern‑day quackery, with the many claims made by Dr Mike Mew having no basis whatsoever in rigorously tested scientific fact, as the British Orthodontic Society states in the article.
There is simply no evidence to suggest patients can change the shape of their face, improve their intelligence or lengthen their life by altering their mouth posture, or that misaligned jaws cause sleep apnoea. There is no such thing as “craniofacial dystrophy”, and malocclusion derives from a complex interplay of genetics, bone growth and muscle development.
The safest and best treatment for misaligned teeth, bite problems and facial disharmony is conventional orthodontic treatment, conducted by trained and regulated dental professionals. Similarly, facial disharmony that cannot be addressed by orthodontic treatment alone is best carried out by a qualified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. In all cases, patients can be reassured that those providing their care have been rigorously trained to the highest possible standard.
As someone who has been struck off by the General Dental Council and has subsequently appealed, Dr Mew has a general contempt for the orthodontic establishment and it is unfortunate that this term has been used to describe him. Indeed, many of the appliances used within orthotropics were primarily devised within conventional orthodontics, so we believe describing Dr Mew as an orthodontist may be misleading and unwittingly give credibility to his pseudoscience.
Prof Grant McIntyre
Dean, Faculty of Dental Surgery, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
