Sir, I was bemused to find myself reading the book review of J. Mew's book in the 9 May edition of the BDJ (216: 493) whilst the radio news announced another controversy regarding the publication of controversial research on statins in the BMJ. During my 25-year career as an orthodontist I have lost count of the number of times Dr Mew has had his controversial views published in the BDJ. Now he has self-published a 354 page book which costs £140, and is of 'limited relevance to the general practitioner or dental student, but specialists will be able to reach their own conclusions...' There is no information about from where this book can be obtained so it will not be easy for me indeed to do so. Is this really worthy of half a page of copy in our scientific journal? If there were a prospective controlled clinical trial to show the superiority of the techniques he has been promoting for so many years I would of course use them for the benefit of my patients, for that would be my professional duty.

Today I find that the 23 May edition of the BDJ contains an 'Opinion' article by M. Mew (216: 555-558), the standard bearer of the next generation of orthotropics believers. My heart cries 'Will we never be free?' but my mind replies 'Peter keep an open mind and look at the evidence'. I will look at the evidence and will await further research. Perhaps it will come from the London School of Facial Orthotropics (of which J. Mew is a Professor) whose 'premises consist of one clinical room and one private consultation room'.1 Although part of the BDJ's mission statement is '...stimulating interest, debate and discussion', may I politely suggest that the BDJ has fulfilled its duty in this context?