John Mew

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John Mew (born in 1928) [1] is a British orthodontist. He is the founder of orthotropics and mewing. [2] Orthotropics is a form of oral posture training that claims to guide facial growth and is not supported by mainstream orthodontists. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] John Mew's son Michael Mew (born c. 1969) is also an orthodontist and has also practised and promoted the idea of orthotropics.

Contents

Career

Mew was educated at Rose Hill preparatory school in Tunbridge Wells (1935–1942) and then at Tonbridge School (1942–1945). He subsequently graduated in dentistry at University College London (1948–1953), and then trained in orthognathic surgery at Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead (1953–1956). He has written two textbooks and published many articles internationally on this subject. He became president of the Southern Counties Branch of the British Dental Association in 1971. Since around 2000, he has spent much of his time lecturing about his techniques. Currently he is a professor of orthotropics at the London School of Facial Orthotropics. [8]

Mew held a two-year visiting professorship at Victor Babeș University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Timișoara, Romania.[ when? ] [3] He was honoured with life membership of the British Dental Association in 1999. [9]

Orthotropics

Orthotropics is Mew's orthodontic method claimed to be able to guide facial growth. Mew's orthodontic methods have consisted of widening and advancing the upper jaw using palatal expanders, changing the patient's diet, and having the patient adopt a myofunctionally correct resting place for the tongue, where he argues it provides an outward force able to laterally expand the upper jaw in a growing child, and prevent downward and backward growth of the maxilla, gradually resulting in a 'natural' cure of the malocclusion. [3] [10]

Mew believes that the etiology of malocclusion is environmental and that environment decides whether or not teeth are crooked. In contrast, mainstream orthodontics attributes crooked teeth primarily to genetics. [3]

Mew became concerned by the orthodontic outcomes of some of his patients. He concluded that the mechanics of orthodontic treatment, while straightening the teeth, did not address the underlying cause of the dental overcrowding and, in some cases, caused facial damage. [11] He concluded that extractions, fixed appliances with elastics and retractive headgear could be harmful to facial growth. In 1958 John Mew put forward The Tropic Premise, which argued that malocclusion was a 'postural deformity', that overcrowded teeth were not necessarily inherited and that, consequently, malocclusion could be avoided with early intervention to correct oral posture and function. [12] [ unreliable source? ]

As part of his search for an approach to orthodontics that did not cause facial retraction, John Mew visited Rolf Fränkel in East Germany in 1968, who introduced him to the work of Konstantin Buteyko. [13] Mew went on to develop the concept of facial growth guidance, which he called Orthotropics, and the Biobloc system of treatment, involving the use of a palate expanding appliance followed by a postural appliance. He practiced Orthotropics for 30 years and was involved in founding the International Association of Facial Growth Guidance in 1987 in Fort Worth, Texas.[ citation needed ]

Mewing

"Mewing" is a form of do-it-yourself oral posture training named after John Mew and his son Michael Mew [14] (born c. 1969) and is described most simply by Mew as "stand up straight and shut your mouth". [3] [15] Mewing grew in popularity, was shared on social medias by influencers and received mainstream media coverage in 2019. [16] This coverage included many tabloid papers and an interview with John Mew’s son Michael on This Morning with Eamonn Holmes. [17] A noticeable role in the popularization of mewing was played by before-and-after photos published on Reddit (e.g., in its r/Mewing subreddit) [18] which have spread to other social networks like TikTok and claim to prove the effectiveness of mewing.[ citation needed ]

Although Mew's theory contains some plausible conclusions, [19] [20] there is inadequate evidence to support the efficacy of this treatment. Therefore, it is not considered a viable alternative treatment to orthognathic surgery. [19]

Controversy

John Mew's views on the aetiology and best treatment process for malocclusion have met opposition from mainstream British orthodontists. [21] [3] Mew was fined by the NHS for providing inappropriate treatment.[ when? ] He appealed against the then Minister of Health in the High Court in 1987 and Lord Justice Murray Stuart-Smith judged that "these very serious strictures were wholly unwarranted and perhaps go some way to justify the applicant's doubts as to the impartiality of the Dental Services Committee". [22] [ citation needed ] He found in favour of Mew and awarded costs.[ citation needed ]

In 2010, the General Dental Council (GDC), a London-based organisation that regulates dental professionals in the United Kingdom, reprimanded Mew for running advertisements that it said contained misleading assertions. The GDC said Mew had "denigrated orthodontics and falsely alleged that the GDC had accepted the truth of Mr Mew's report". [23] Mew characterized the investigation and reprimand as an effort to suppress his theories. Mew did not dispute the charge and referred to himself as a "whistleblower". [23]

Mew's son, Michael Mew, has asserted that his father and his theories had been treated badly by the profession. In a unanimous decision around 2019, Michael Mew was expelled from the British Orthodontic Society for continuing to advocate his positions. He launched a petition campaign to argue for a repeal of the decision. [24]

Advocacy

John Mew has spent most of his life actively advocating for a reduction in orthognathic surgery and ensuring patients knew about less invasive alternatives before consenting to surgery. He started his career as an orthognathic surgeon and came to believe that most cases relapsed or did not serve the patient well. He advocates simple maxims that align with paleoanthropological view on developing good jaws and teeth: breathe through your nose, not your mouth; chew hard food; stand up straight.

One aspect upset me more than any other; unnecessary surgery. As you will see from the cases demonstrated in this book, Orthotropics is able to avoid the need for orthognathic surgery in almost every case. At the end of the last millennium it was thought that in Britain, about 1000 children and young adults received orthognathic surgery a year but in 1999 a survey suggested that 7% of a consultant Orthodontist’s workload was related to Orthognathic treatment and in 2009 it was estimated that 1.5 million people would warrant orthognathic treatment. I think that this increase is partly driven by an acceptance within current orthodontic practice that most class II malocclusions with overjets of over four millimetres will require surgery.

Orthotropics frequently corrects overjets of over ten millimetres. This of course is of importance when we are considering ‘Informed Consent’ as all patients who have been told they require jaw surgery should also be told if there are non-surgical options. Unfortunately the orthodontists for reasons of their own, have convinced the GDC that orthotropics is no more effective than Functional or Orthopaedic appliances. To me this is not Fully Informed Consent as it should be the patient who decides whether to have surgery not the clinician.

— John Mew, The Cause and Cure of Malocclusion, 2nd ed. (2013), p. 22

Mew argues that orthodontic patients in the UK are not given fully informed consent, because they are not told about alternative treatment methods such as orthotropics. This culminated in Mew taking out a newspaper advertisement to proclaim his opinion that the General Dental Council suppressed information about alternatives. In 2010 the GDC reprimanded Mew for accusing the GDC of promoting surgery for jaw misalignment when there were non-surgical alternatives available. [25]

Personal life

Aged 18, shortly after the end of the Second World War, Mew learnt to fly a de Havilland Tiger Moth biplane. He subsequently took up fixed-wing gliding and later hang gliding.[ citation needed ] At 19 he built his own sports car, fabricating much of it from scratch.[ citation needed ] Between 1957 and 1967 he was involved in motor racing, moving from Formula Three to Formula One. [26] He was one of the last private entrants, entering events all over Europe. In 1963 he twice broke the Formula One club circuit record at Brands Hatch, beating times set by world champions Jim Clark, and John Surtees. [27] [28] In 1958 he was selected for the British Team for the first post-war challenge for the Americas Cup, though he was subsequently unable to participate in the event itself. In 1971, he was selected to crew for John Prentice, captain for the British International 14 dinghy racing team in Annapolis, Maryland, where Britain came second. John Mew and his crew Michael Moss took second place at an International 14 World Championships anniversary event.[ citation needed ]

Between 1993 and 1999, Mew built a reproduction moated castle in a valley in Sussex, which was featured on the TV programme Britain's Best Home. [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthodontics</span> Correctional branch of dentistry

Orthodontics is a dentistry specialty that addresses the diagnosis, prevention, management, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws, as well as misaligned bite patterns. It may also address the modification of facial growth, known as dentofacial orthopedics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dental braces</span> Form of orthodontics

Dental braces are devices used in orthodontics that align and straighten teeth and help position them with regard to a person's bite, while also aiming to improve dental health. They are often used to correct underbites, as well as malocclusions, overbites, open bites, gaps, deep bites, cross bites, crooked teeth, and various other flaws of the teeth and jaw. Braces can be either cosmetic or structural. Dental braces are often used in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances to help widen the palate or jaws and to otherwise assist in shaping the teeth and jaws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clear aligners</span> Transparent dental braces

Clear aligners are orthodontic devices that are a transparent, plastic form of dental braces used to adjust teeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prognathism</span> Protrusion of the upper or lower human jaw

Prognathism is a positional relationship of the mandible or maxilla to the skeletal base where either of the jaws protrudes beyond a predetermined imaginary line in the coronal plane of the skull.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthognathic surgery</span> Surgery of the jaw

Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery or simply jaw surgery, is surgery designed to correct conditions of the jaw and lower face related to structure, growth, airway issues including sleep apnea, TMJ disorders, malocclusion problems primarily arising from skeletal disharmonies, and other orthodontic dental bite problems that cannot be treated easily with braces, as well as the broad range of facial imbalances, disharmonies, asymmetries, and malproportions where correction may be considered to improve facial aesthetics and self-esteem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malocclusion</span> Medical condition

In orthodontics, a malocclusion is a misalignment or incorrect relation between the teeth of the upper and lower dental arches when they approach each other as the jaws close. The English-language term dates from 1864; Edward Angle (1855–1930), the "father of modern orthodontics", popularised it. The word "malocclusion" derives from occlusion, and refers to the manner in which opposing teeth meet.

Orthodontic technology is a specialty of dental technology that is concerned with the design and fabrication of dental appliances for the treatment of malocclusions, which may be a result of tooth irregularity, disproportionate jaw relationships, or both.

Jaw wiring is a medical procedure to keep the jaw closed for a period of time. Originally, it was used as the mandibular equivalent of a cast, to fix the jaw in place while a fracture healed. Jaw wiring is also used for weight-loss purposes, to prevent the ingestion of solid food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Overjet</span> Medical condition

Overjet is the extent of horizontal (anterior-posterior) overlap of the maxillary central incisors over the mandibular central incisors. In class II malocclusion the overjet is increased as the maxillary central incisors are protruded.

Cephalometric analysis is the clinical application of cephalometry. It is analysis of the dental and skeletal relationships of a human skull. It is frequently used by dentists, orthodontists, and oral and maxillofacial surgeons as a treatment planning tool. Two of the more popular methods of analysis used in orthodontology are the Steiner analysis and the Downs analysis. There are other methods as well which are listed below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaw abnormality</span> Medical condition

A jaw abnormality is a disorder in the formation, shape and/or size of the jaw. In general abnormalities arise within the jaw when there is a disturbance or fault in the fusion of the mandibular processes. The mandible in particular has the most differential typical growth anomalies than any other bone in the human skeleton. This is due to variants in the complex symmetrical growth pattern which formulates the mandible.

Long face syndrome, also referred to as skeletal open bite, is a relatively common condition characterised by excessive vertical facial development. Its causes may be either genetic or environmental. Long face syndrome is "a common dentofacial abnormality." Its diagnosis, symptomology and treatments are complex and controversial. Indeed, even its existence as a "syndrome" is disputed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdolreza Jamilian</span>

Abdolreza Jamilian is an Iranian orthodontist and a USPTO patent holder for devices including a method and system for treatment of maxillary deficiency using miniscrews, a tongue plat, and an R-appliance.

Dr. Rolf Fränkel was a German Orthodontist who is known for developing the Frankel appliance.

Dr. Robert M. Ricketts was an American orthodontist known for many contributions in the field of orthodontics. Most important contributions were related to his development of Ricketts' Cephalometric Analysis and an .018-inch slot in an orthodontic bracket. His research focused on the growth and structural variation of the face and jaws.

Open bite is a type of orthodontic malocclusion which has been estimated to occur in 0.6% of the people in the United States. This type of malocclusion has no vertical overlap or contact between the anterior incisors. The term "open bite" was coined by Carevelli in 1842 as a distinct classification of malocclusion. Different authors have described the open bite in a variety of ways. Some authors have suggested that open bite often arises when overbite is less than the usual amount. Additionally, others have contended that open bite is identified by end-on incisal relationships. Lastly, some researchers have stated that a lack of incisal contact must be present to diagnose an open bite.

Orthodontic indices are one of the tools that are available for orthodontists to grade and assess malocclusion. Orthodontic indices can be useful for an epidemiologist to analyse prevalence and severity of malocclusion in any population.

It is estimated that nearly 30% of the general population present with malocclusions that are in great need of orthodontic treatment. However, the term dentofacial deformity describes an array of dental and maxillo-mandibular abnormalities, often presenting with a malocclusion, which is not amenable to orthodontic treatment alone and definitive treatment needs surgical alignment of upper/lower jaws or both. Individuals with dentofacial deformities often present with lower quality of life and compromised functions with respect to breathing, swallowing, chewing, speech articulation, and lip closure/posture. It is estimated that about 5% of general population present with dentofacial deformities that are not amenable to orthodontic treatment only.

The Herbst appliance is an orthodontic appliance used by orthodontists to correct class 2 retrognathic mandible in a growing patient, meaning that the lower jaw is too far back. This is also called bitejumping. Herbst appliance parts include stainless steel surgical frameworks that are secured onto the teeth by bands or acrylic bites. These are connected by sets of telescoping mechanisms that apply gentle upward and backward force on the upper jaw, and forward force on the lower jaw. The original bite-jumping appliance was designed by Dr. Emil Herbst and reintroduced by Dr. Hans Pancherz using maxillary and mandibular first molars and first bicuspids. The bands were connected with heavy wire soldered to each band and carried a tube and piston assembly that allowed mandibular movement but permanently postured the mandible forward. The appliance not only corrected a dental Class II to a dental Class I but also offered a marked improvement of the classic Class II facial profile.

Mewing is a form of oral posture training purported to improve jaw and facial structure. It was named after Mike and John Mew, the controversial British orthodontists who created the technique as a part of a practice called "orthotropics". It involves placing one's tongue at the roof of the mouth and applying pressure, with the aim of changing the structure of the jaws. No credible scientific research has ever proven the efficacy of orthotropics.

References

  1. ↑ "John Mew". 500race.org.
  2. ↑ What is the difference between orthtropics and mewing? , retrieved 9 December 2023– via YouTube
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brennan, William (20 August 2020). "How Two British Orthodontists Became Celebrities to Incels" . The New York Times . Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "GDC reprimands 81-year-old dentist over 'whistleblowing' advert". Dentistry. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  5. ↑ Huntley, P. N. (August 2014). "Orthotropics: Will we never be free?". British Dental Journal. 217 (4): 160. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2014.707 . ISSN   1476-5373. PMID   25146779.
  6. ↑ "Development | Mewing?". sensationsolutions.com. Retrieved 4 March 2020.[ dead link ]
  7. ↑ "Dr. Rachel Ho | What Is Mewing?". drrachelho.com. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  8. ↑ London School of Facial Orthotropics official website.
  9. ↑ Mew, John; Mew, Michael (2015). "Canine impaction: how effective is early prevention? An audit of treated cases" (PDF). Stomatology Edu Journal. 2 (2): 114–119. doi:10.25241/stomaeduj.2015.2(2).art.3.
  10. ↑ Mew, John (10 May 2020). "John Mew's Lectures 2 – Facial Growth" . Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  11. ↑ Mew, Michael; Mew, John. "A challenge to the orthodontists". Orthotropics YouTube channel– via YouTube.
  12. ↑ "Watkins Dental Surgery - The 'Tropic' Premise". www.watkinsdentalsurgery.com.au. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  13. ↑ McKeown, Patrick, Buteyko Meets Dr Mew, ISBN   978-0956682307
  14. ↑ McClinton, Dream (21 March 2019). "Mewing: what is the YouTube craze that claims to reshape your face?". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  15. ↑ Mew, Michael, "What is Mewing?", Orthotropics YouTube channel, retrieved 9 December 2023– via YouTube
  16. ↑ Lee, Urie K. (27 March 2019). "Mewing: Social Media's Alternative to Orthognathic Surgery?". Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 77 (9): 1743–1744. doi:10.1016/j.joms.2019.03.024. PMID   31005620.
  17. ↑ "Give yourself a DIY facelift... with your tongue ?". ITV. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  18. ↑ "r/Mewing". Reddit . Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  19. 1 2 Lee, Urie K.; Graves, Lindsay L.; Friedlander, Arthur H. (1 September 2019). "Mewing: Social Media's Alternative to Orthognathic Surgery?". Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 77 (9): 1743–1744. doi: 10.1016/j.joms.2019.03.024 . ISSN   0278-2391. PMID   31005620.
  20. ↑ Kanh, Sandra (22 July 2020). "The Jaw Epidemic: Recognition, Origins, Cures, and Prevention". BioScience. 70 (9).
  21. ↑ "Children's dentists at odds in battle of the braces". The Independent. 21 November 1999. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  22. ↑ Mew, John (July 2014). "Suppression". John Mew Orthotropics. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  23. 1 2 "GDC reprimands 81-year-old dentist over 'whistleblowing' advert". Dentistry. 31 March 2010.
  24. ↑ Mew, Michael. "Mike Mew expelled from the British Orthodontic Society- right or wrong? The facts!". Orthotropics YouTube channel– via YouTube.
  25. ↑ "GDC reprimands 81-year-old dentist over 'whistleblowing' advert". Dentistry. 31 March 2010.
  26. ↑ "Brands Batch". Motor Sport. May 1963.
  27. ↑ Mew, Bill (31 December 2015). "Do you have the right formula for cloud survival? Consolidation and the lessons from motor racing history".
  28. ↑ "Driver Profiles: John Mew". Tunbridge Wells Motor Club. 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2019.
  29. ↑ "Castle is the tops". Sussex Express. 10 July 2003. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019.
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