John Mew: Former maxilo-facial surgeon turned anti-surgery anti-braces Orthtropics

Professor John Mew

Head of the London School of Facial Orthotropics

After qualifying as a dentist in 1953, he studied Maxilo-facial surgery, before moving to orthodontics in 1965. He became president of the Southern Counties Branch of the British Dental Association in 1971. His surgical training at East Grinstead gave him the opportunity to study occlusal and TMD problems. He also observed the facial changes that followed the repositioning of its skeletal omponents. Through his further involvement in research, he noticed that many facial problems appeared to have environmental origins and, as a result, became very interested in early facial growth.

In 1958 Professor Mew put forward the ‘Tropic Premise’, which suggested that malocclusion was a ‘Postural Deformity’ and that irregular teeth were not necessarily inherited. He became concerned that the mechanics of orthodontic treatment could be harmful to facial growth, and over the subsequent 20 years developed the concept of facial ‘Growth Guidance’ [Orthotropics®] and the ‘Biobloc’ system of treatment. He has published numerous scientific papers and articles, written two textbooks and lectures regularly on the subject in the U.K. and abroad.

In 2010, Professor Mew was honored with two “Outstanding Achievement Awards”from the International Association of Orthodontists and the International Functional Association. He has been honored with lifetime membership to the British Dental Association and has also received a lifetime fellowship to the International College of Dentists—an honor bestowed upon dentists who have “made significant contributions to the profession.”