It is with great sadness that I report the passing of one of my most influential mentors, a visionary and a wonderful human being.
John developed the philosophy of “Orthotropics” which is about proper growth and development of the face and the entire body. His work was always based in excellent science and his own research. He also developed a treatment protocol to help facial growth, to minimise the need for braces, to improve the size, health and function of the upper airway, to minimise the risk of Sleep Disordered Breathing, and to minimise the stress on the TMJs to help prevent the development of Temporomandibular Disorders.
John was still travelling around Europe teaching as recently as last year (2024). He died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family, at tha age of 96, in June 2025.
It comes as no surprise that john continues to teach from beyond the grave. He wrote the following –
From Beyond the Veil
“If you’re hearing my words now, it means my time among you has passed. But ideas — the true ones — don’t die. They live on in minds that dare to question and in hearts brave enough to change.
I spent my life asking questions no one wanted to ask — and offering answers many were not ready to hear. I was not always welcomed. I was often misunderstood. But I never lost sight of the simple truth:
We are not born broken.
We are shaped — by habit, by environment, by culture.
The face is not just a canvas of beauty; it is the map of your health, your development, your identity. How you breathe. How you hold your head. Where your tongue rests. These things matter — more than most will ever realize.
I challenged an entire profession not to criticize it, but to wake it up. Because orthodontics, as it stands, too often treats symptoms, not causes. And children suffer in silence when their growth is misunderstood.
To parents: start early. Guide gently. A child’s future — their airway, their posture, their confidence — lies in your hands.
To professionals: do not fear controversy. Fear complacency. The truth has never belonged to the majority, but to those willing to seek it, even when it’s uncomfortable.
And to the next generation: you are the guardians of a new way. Build a world where form follows function, and health begins not in treatment, but in understanding.
I may be gone from the world of flesh and breath, but my voice, my message, my hope — they remain.
Let the face grow forward. Let the child grow free. Let truth grow louder than fear.”
I will never forget what I have learned from John, and I will do my best to continue his legacy for whatever time I have.
My condolences to Dr Mike Mew and his family…
I will miss you John.