Nigel Harradine
12 Bridewell Place, 
London EC4V 6AP
8TH May 09
Dear Nigel
I hope that you have had a chance to read the editorial that I wrote in the British Dental Journal (Vol 206, No. 8 April 25 2009) if not I enclose a copy. In this article I attempt to put forward an argument that there is strong possibility that the prime cause of orthodontics is the environment. The closing statement is that we should have a debate on the aetiology of malocclusion, or rather test the hypothesis that “Malocclusion is caused by the environment and modified by the genes”. 
As the chairman of the British Orthodontic Society I ask if you or your members would like to contribute or take part in this debate. I would also like to hear back from any of your members who would like to voice their opinions.
This is a clean concise subject that would lend its self well to an open discussion. It is not a large subject and is considered so insignificant many orthodontic text books give it little or no space and few quote from a pool of more than 25 papers of original scientific content. 
Although I have not had the pleasure of conversing with you directly, you have a reputation for being a fair and free minded individual, who is particularly interested in the evidence behind the practice of orthodontics and ultimately the truth. If we do not act now we risk being judged in the future for not acting. A profession that does not claim to know the cause of the condition that it treats and avoids a debate on the subject cannot claim to be very interested in finding the answers. 
However important the issue may be this is after all only a debate, and it should be educational, informative and even fun. 
I look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Mike Mew
Michael Mew
129 Prices Court
Cotton Row
London, SW11 3YW
07956 419918