For decades, orthodontics has been grounded in scientific research, refining treatments that effectively correct misaligned teeth and jaws. Yet, an alternative approach—orthotropics—has gained attention, particularly online, where proponents claim that posture, tongue placement, and natural growth guidance can reshape facial structure.
What is orthotropics?
An approach that focuses on influencing facial growth and development by addressing oral posture, muscle balance, and breathing patterns to promote “natural” alignment of the jaws and teeth, often using removable appliances and/or exercises. Its use has been promoted for young children and sometime adults too.
Dr. Mo Al-Dujaili highlights that “it is important to distinguish orthotropics from mainstream orthodontic treatments, which include early treatment and growth modification, that we as specialist orthodontists successfully (and routinely) carry out in everyday practice, utilising the scientific evidence available to use to help us manipulate teeth and jaw positions”.
Orthotropics has been heavily criticised by professional orthodontic bodies, with the British Orthodontic Society (BOS) in 2025 warning:
“There is no scientific evidence to suggest patients can change the shape of their face or improve their intelligence by chewing or holding teeth and the tongue in a closed position or indeed making any kind of facial movements.”
In 2023, the General Dental Council (GDC) in the UK took disciplinary action against Dr. Mike Mew, the most prominent figure promoting orthotropics, for failing to meet professional standards. News coverage of the case raised serious concerns about the lack of scientific backing and the risks involved in alternative orthodontic treatments.
But what does this mean for patients, particularly parents seeking the best care for their children? Dr. Mo Al-Dujaili, a Specialist Orthodontist at Shakespeare Orthodontics in Auckland, weighs in on the controversy.
The Orthotropics Dilemma: A Specialist’s Perspective
In a conversation about orthodontics and orthotropics, Dr. Mo was clear about his concerns regarding the treatment. He pointed to issues of decreased treatment efficiency, increased costs, lack of long-term stability, limited treatment changes, ethical considerations and patient burn-out, which make orthotropics a difficult approach to support.
Small Gains, High Costs: Is It Worth It?
One of the main concerns with orthotropics is whether the results justify the investment. Dr. Mo notes that studies have shown only minimal gains in jaw growth:
“They’ve done some research in Sweden, and you get gains of about two millimetres. That’s two millimetres. When a kid’s got a crossbite, It’s usually six millimetres, eight millimetres. So, you gain two millimetres, so it works. But then there is the issue of long-term stability. When the same researchers followed up on those same patients for five or six years, all the patients lost the gains that they made using various appliances. Interesting. So, you end up back at square one. But even when you look at that and go, ‘Right, we’ve made a gain of two millimetres, is that worth 6, 8, or $10,000?’ Then having to be told you need a second course of treatment.”
Orthotropic treatment often costs thousands of dollars, yet Dr. Mo questions whether it provides real long-term benefits:
“If you spend $6,000 and you’ve got a 10 per cent improvement, and you’re going to be asked to spend another $10,000 for comprehensive braces treatment, that doesn’t exactly make sense. So, the big focus should be to keep efficiency in mind. We carry out treatment with plates to correct dentoalveolar anomalies and growth modification on a daily basis. We use plates and things like that to expand, push teeth out of crossbites, redistribute spaces etc. Because we are tailoring the treatment for the individual patient that’s coming in, efficiency is maximised.”
His concern is not just about whether orthotropics has some effect—but whether it’s the best option for a patient’s time and money.
Long Treatment Times and Patient Burnout
Beyond cost, orthotropics can be a years-long commitment with daily commitments and routines that need to be established for children—sometimes with unclear results. Dr. Mo has seen cases where patients undergo treatment for 5, 6, or even 8 years, only to be told they need comprehensive treatment and further corrections. These patients routinely end up in treatment for 5+ years. That is a lot of treatment time for anyone yet alone a young child.
“Quite often patients are burnt out,” Dr. Mo says. “They’ve spent two, three years in treatment already, and you tell them you need two more years of treatment with braces. The total treatment time is five, six years, sometimes eight years.”
The concern is not just about time—it’s also about the frustration and exhaustion that patients and parents feel after years of slow progress.
“One-Size-Fits-All” Treatment: Why It’s a Problem
Unlike traditional orthodontics, where treatment is highly customised, orthotropics follows a more standardised and recipe approach, which Dr. Mo finds problematic.
“Treatment providers don’t tailor the treatment itself to the specific needs of that individual. It’s more of a recipe approach. And that’s a problem when it comes to biology and growing young people.”
In orthodontics, every patient has unique facial structures and bite patterns, which is why Dr. Mo believes that a rigid approach is flawed:
“We are not all biologically the same. We have different facial structures and everything about us is unique and individual. So, why would you expect one appliance to work for everybody?”
In contrast, his approach focuses on personalisation—“the right treatment plan, at the right time for the best possible outcomes, choosing from a range of 28 different appliances based on what works best for each patient”, he says.
“You don’t just give them a stock standard off-the-shelf appliance. You specifically customise and design these appliances to do what you need them to do, to get a nice smile, to fulfil their treatment demands.”
Professional Ethics: Why Orthotropics Isn’t Endorsed by Specialists
Dr. Mo was direct in explaining why orthodontic specialists do not stand behind orthotropics. While some practitioners offer it, trained specialists do not feel comfortable endorsing a treatment with inconsistent results:
“I’m not comfortable putting my name and reputation to treatment that isn’t tailored to each patients’ needs. When we provide treatment, I want to be able to provide patients and their families the highest levels of confidence that the proposed treatment will meet their expectations and yield the best possible smile.”
His stance is in line with the British Orthodontic Society’s official statement, which emphasised the lack of scientific evidence:
“We always put patients first and we are concerned to ensure that patients are not misled into believing that you can change the shape of your face by chewing or holding teeth and the tongue in a closed position or indeed making any kind of facial movements. There are no independent studies or scientific evidence to support this claim.”
For Dr. Mo, patient trust and ethical responsibility come first.
“At the end of the day, it’s our reputation, right? People aren’t going to come back and say, ‘Oh, Mo, The plate didn’t work.’ They’re going to say, ‘You’re not a great orthodontist and you didn’t do your job properly.’ So many of our patients are referred into the clinic because we are trusted in the community that we serve. Often, they have been referred by a friend, family member, neighbour, where they have seen the results obtained.
This emphasises why orthodontists stick to time-tested treatments—because their professional credibility is tied to real patient outcomes.”
Orthotropics vs. Orthodontics: What Should Parents Know?
Given the rising interest in orthotropics and other alternative treatments, Dr. Mo encourages parents to get a second opinion before committing to treatment—he encourages parents and patients to “do your research”. While alternative treatments exist, he stresses the importance of making decisions based on scientific evidence.
“The idea is not to say, ‘That’s a bad person’ or ‘This is a terrible thing.’ The idea is to educate… you just want to make sure that you have an opinion from a specialist orthodontist.”
His advice is simple:
- Look at the long-term results—not just short-term improvements.
- Consider the efficiency of treatment—is it cost-effective, and does it deliver permanent change?
- Seek opinions from trained orthodontic specialists—to ensure that treatment is backed by scientific research and experience.
As orthotropics continues to be debated, Dr. Mo believes the key is informed decision-making—ensuring that patients receive the best care possible, with proven methods that stand the test of time.
Final Thoughts
The conversation around orthotropics vs. orthodontics isn’t just about different philosophies—it’s about what works best for patients.
While orthotropics has been heavily criticised by orthodontic professionals and regulatory bodies, Dr. Mo’s approach remains clear: orthodontic treatment should be based on evidence, efficiency, and ethics.
As parents explore options for their children’s orthodontic care, Dr. Mo encourages parents to do some research before committing. His message is simple:
“Just know this is quite an alternative treatment. This is not mainstream treatment. Basically, trying to bring that awareness to say, ‘If you’re thinking about it, maybe get a second opinion, make sure that you’re on the right path and have your expectations set before you go down this track.”
In an era of online trends and alternative health movements, his advice is a reminder to trust science, experience, and the specialists who have dedicated their careers to getting it right.
Would You Like to Discuss Treatment Options?
For expert orthodontic advice, don’t hesitate to book a consultation with Dr. Mo Al-Dujaili at Shakespeare Orthodontics. He practices in Epsom, Howick, Takapuna, and Warworth.
Shakespeare Orthodontics: Shaping a Smile You Will Love
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