skip to main content

Wits Appraisal — MFDS Part 1 MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardOrthodontic PrinciplesWits AppraisalMFDS Part 1

An orthodontist wishes to use the conventional Wits appraisal as a linear assessment of the sagittal jaw-base relationship without using nasion as the reference point. Which tracing construction correctly produces this measurement?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Project points A and B perpendicularly onto the functional occlusal plane and measure the signed AO–BO distance

Explanation lettering: D = shown as A · E = shown as B · B = shown as C · A = shown as D · C = shown as E

The correct answer is A. In the conventional Wits appraisal, perpendiculars are dropped from skeletal points A and B to the functional occlusal plane, producing AO and BO. Their signed linear separation assesses the anteroposterior relationship of the maxillary and mandibular apical bases. Unlike ANB, it does not use nasion or the cranial base directly, although it can still be affected by the inclination and identification of the occlusal plane. Option B uses the wrong reference plane, while C substitutes pogonion for point B. Option D is simply the direct A–B distance and is not the Wits construction. Option E describes the ANB angle rather than Wits appraisal.

Reference: Tanrısever NC, Akçam MO. Sagittal, Vertical, and Transverse Skeletal Characteristics in Individuals with Impacted Maxillary Canines: A Retrospective Study, Figure 2, 2026. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41753170/