Assessing sagittal discrepancies using beta angle, ANB angle and WITS appraisal: A cephalometric study

There is a need to evaluate the reliability and applicability of various cephalometric tools used for assessing sagittal discrepancies in patients with Class I, II, and III skeletal patterns. Therefore, it is of interest to assess sagittal discrepancies in patients with Class I, II, and III skeletal patterns by comparing three common diagnostic tools: the beta angle, ANB angle and Wits appraisal. Hence, a total of 120 subjects, divided into three groups based on their skeletal pattern, were evaluated using lateral cephalograms. Statistical analyses showed significant differences in beta angle measurements between the groups. The beta angle was found to provide a more consistent assessment of sagittal jaw relationships than the ANB angle and Wits appraisal, especially in cases with jaw rotations or occlusal plane changes. Thus, we show the beta angle as a valuable tool for orthodontic diagnosis, offering greater reliability in assessing skeletal relationships. Further research with larger samples and different populations is recommended to validate these findings.