Wits appraisal and Tweed triangle for a sample of Iraqi adults

الملخص EN

Background : this study aimed to establish the normal value of Wits appraisal and Tweed triangle for a sample of Iraqi adults and to verify the existence of sexual dimorphism.

Materials and Methods : 95 dental students (41 males and 54 females) having normal occlusion and acceptable facial profile were chosen for this study.

Each student was subjected to clinical examination and digital true lateral cephalometric radiograph.

The radiographs were analyzed using AutoCAD 2007 to measure the distance representing the Wits appraisal and the angles representing Tweed triangle.

Descriptive statistics were obtained for the measurements for both genders separately and for total sample; independent samples t-test was performed to evaluate the gender difference.

Results : the results indicated that the mean value of Wits appraisal was higher in males than females with a no significant difference between both genders, on the other hand, the Frankfort- mandibular plane angle was higher in males than females while the Frankfort- mandibular incisor angle was higher in females than males and mandibular incisor-mandibular plane angle was nearly similar in both genders with a non-significant difference.

Conclusions : the normal values of Wits appraisal and Tweed Triangle were established.

The Iraqi sample showed Wits appraisal of females near to that of Jacobson while of males was higher.

Regarding Tweed triangle, both genders showed more proclination of lower incisors than of Tweed with a Frankfort- mandibular plane angle near to that of Tweed.