Orthodontist struck off after boy had 'seizure-like' attack

An orthodontist whose unorthodox methods around shaping the jawline have gained popularity on social media has been struck off after a boy "suffered seizure-like episodes" during treatment.

- REBECCA THOMAS

Dr Mike Mew, whose "mewing" techniques have racked up more than two billion views on TikTok and were the subject of a Netflix documentary, was found to be a “risk to public safety” by the General Dental Council following a misconduct hearing.

Following a tribunal held on Monday and a seven-year investigation, Dr Mew is set to be erased from the dental register and was given an immediate suspension order “for the protection of the public”.

The tribunal said: “Committee considered that not to impose an immediate order would be inconsistent and undermine its findings which found that you were a risk to public safety as you were undertaking treatments with no objective evidence base.”

All allegations apart from one were found proved by the GDC committee.

Although the Mews Orthoptropics technique has been adopted in some countries, it is not recognised as a treatment by the NHS or GDC and Dr Mews is, according to the regulator, the only Orthotropic practioner in the UK.