PREDICATING THE “WITS” APPRAISAL FROM THE ANB ANGLE

Objective In order to explore the relationship between the “Wits" appraisal and the ANB angle, and to see how accurately one can predict the “Wits”. Methods Given the ANB, lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken on 50 boys and 50 girls between the ages of 11～13. Results Each subject had no treatment either a Class Ⅰ or Class Ⅱ malocclusion, a good growth pattern. Group Ⅰ , 13 subjects of 100 had ANB≤1.5°, and negative “Wits” appraisal; group Ⅱ , 61 subjects had 5.8°＞ANB＞1.5°, and “Wits” appraisal either positive or negative; group Ⅲ , 26 subjects had ANB angle≥5.8°, and positive “Wits” appraisal. Statistically analysis showed that there was no sig nificant difference in sex (P＞0.05); there was significant correlation between the ANB and “Wits” values in the group Ⅱ and group Ⅲ (P ＜0. 05); there was statistical significance in regression analysis in the group Ⅰ and group Ⅱ (P ＜0. 05). We could predict the “Wits” with 21％ accuracy in group Ⅱ. Conclusion The results indicate that these figures are statistically significant but clinically irrelevant.