Schoolgirl, six, was left with a 'huge' ulcer after 'alternative treatment' from controversial orthodontist behind TikTok 'mewing' craze that claims to change shape of jawline, misconduct tribunal hear

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A six-year-old girl was left with a 'huge' ulcer after receiving alternative treatment from a controversial orthodontist behind the TikTok 'mewing' craze, a misconduct tribunal heard. 

Dr Mike Mew allegedly performed 'unnecessary' jawline reshaping treatment on children as young as two. 

The General Dental Council heard Dr Mew would fit his patients with 'lower and upper arch expansion appliances' to help align the teeth and reposition the jawline.

Dr Mew and his father started the technique of 'mewing' that promises to help 'gain full genetic potential' in patients' facial features by moving the position of the tongue and teeth. 

Dr Keith Altman, a maxillofacial surgeon, told the hearing a former patient of Mew, 'Patient A', was referred to him in May 2017 for a 'tongue tie release.' 

Dr Mike Mew was behind a TikTok 'mewing' craze that claims to change the shape of your jawline without surgery

Mew's 'mewing' technique promises to help 'gain full genetic potential' in patients' facial features by moving the position of the tongue and teeth

The doctor was the Deputy Medical Director at the Queen Victoria Hospital, East Grinstead. The patient came to him because her mother was concerned she did not 'have full free movement of her tongue'. 

She had been fitted with lower and upper arch appliances by Dr Mew, and had 'appliances on both arches, upper and lower' and 'both had mid-line screws,' Dr Altman said.

He said the patient arrived at her appointment that day with a 'subdued' look which he believed was due to pain caused by an 'ulcer'. 

'She had a huge, huge, ulcer caused but the appliance of the mouth... she would have found that very very painful. I explained to the mother she should not be wearing those appliances, that she should let the ulcer heal and therefore did not need a tongue tie release.'

Lydia Barnfather, for the GDC, questioned Dr Altman and said, 'Having seen the patient at the time, you use the term 'splayed arches' - what do you mean by this?'

Mew allegedly performed the 'unnecessary' jawline reshaping treatment on children as young as two

'When you have an anterior open bite you will get some gaps in between the teeth, so the gaps were unnecessarily widened,' Dr Altman replied.

'You mentioned this six-year-old patient was in a ''subdued mood'' and this huge ulcer would have been causing some distress, did you have some concerns for her wellbeing?' asked Ms Barnfather.

'Yes, of course, naturally,' replied Dr Altman.

'You said [the appliance] had midline screws, can you just explain? You said you were concerned the appliances fitted to 'Patient A' were causing damage... you also noticed a band of flesh was traumatised?' asked Ms Barnfather.

Dr Altman told the tribunal that the midline screw on the lower appliance was impinging on the mouth tissue, and that 'the more the piece of the tissue gets swollen the more it gets traumatised'. 

'If the child is expected to have the appliances twenty-four hours a day, then there is no opportunity for that damage to heal so it just gets worse and worse' Dr Altman said.

Maxillofacial surgeon Dr Keith Altman said a former six-year-old patient of Mew's came to him with a 'subdued' look, which he believed was due to pain caused by an 'ulcer'

Stephen Vullo, defending Mew, asked the maxillofacial surgeon: 'In terms of the ulcer, you obviously made a note of it... do you recall what conversation you have with the mother about the ulcer?'

'It was a long time ago, but I just obviously would have pointed out to her there was a fairly large ulcer and the best way to get it to heal was to remove the appliances completely,' Dr Altman replied.

'But you didn't suggest any other treatment but the removing of the appliances?' asked Mr Vullo.

'No, it would have been to [remove] the appliance' Dr Altman said.

'Would it be fair to say in terms of 'orthotropic' treatment you may have heard of it, but would It be fair to say you were not an expert?' asked Mr Vullo.

'I have no idea of orthotropic treatment, but I know harm when I see it,' replied Dr Altman.

Dr Mew denies his fitness to practice is impaired by reason of misconduct.

The charge relates to the advice and treatment he provided to two children, referred to as Patient A and Patient B, between September 2013 and May 2019.

Patient B was only two when his treatment began in 2013.

The hearing continues.