Sir, I see that Michael Mew feels we lack foundation to explain the aetiology of malocclusion (BDJ 2010; 209: 439).

Nigel Harradine, Chairman of the British Orthodontic Society, has rightly refuted any conspiracy theory amongst specialist and academic orthodontists.

It remains to point out that 'malocclusion' is not a scientific term. It is a subjective opinion on how much a particular occlusion varies from the ideal. In fact the ideal is rare and variants are part of biological systems.

It is well recognised that heredity, development and environmental factors all play a part in a particular variant occlusion.

THERE IS NO ONE SIMPLISTIC CAUSE.

If Michael Mew has researched evidence for a new theory, it is very welcome. It is up to him to prove it, not for anyone else to disprove it.