Wits Appraisal
Pronunciation: WITS ap-PRAY-zal
A cephalometric measurement that assesses the anteroposterior jaw relationship by projecting points A and B perpendicularly onto the occlusal plane, used as an adjunct to or substitute for the ANB angle.
Full Definition
The Wits appraisal was developed to overcome the limitations of the ANB angle, which can be influenced by the position of nasion. It is measured by dropping perpendiculars from skeletal points A and B to the functional occlusal plane and recording the distance between the two feet of those perpendiculars. In females, a mean of 0 mm is considered normal; in males, approximately −1 mm. In editorial work, 'Wits' should be capitalised as a proper noun (derived from the University of the Witwatersrand) and 'appraisal' should be lowercase. Values are expressed in millimetres.
Usage
Usage note: 'Wits' is always capitalised; 'appraisal' is lowercase. Values are in millimetres; include the unit symbol (mm) in all measurements.
In Context
- "The Wits appraisal of +6 mm reinforced the cephalometric impression of a severe Class II skeletal base." — Hospital orthodontic report
- "Ensure 'Wits' is capitalised throughout; it is a proper noun referencing the institution where the measurement was developed." — Editorial style note