Which statement best describes the interpretation of SNA, SNB, and ANB angles?

• A. SNA reflects maxillary position relative to cranial base.
• B. SNB reflects mandible position relative to cranial base.
• C. ANB indicates maxillo-mandibular discrepancy (Class II >0, Class III <0).
• D. Wits appraisal uses occlusal plane.

Answer: (C)

These angles are used to understand how the jaw positions relate to the cranial base and to each other in the sagittal plane. The SNA angle reflects where the maxilla sits in relation to the cranial base, using Sella-Nasion-A point. The SNB angle does the same for the mandible, using Sella-Nasion-B point. The ANB angle is the difference between those two and tells you how the two jaws relate to one another.

The statement about ANB best describes the combined interpretation because it directly expresses the relative discrepancy between the maxilla and the mandible. A positive ANB indicates a maxilla ahead of the mandible (Class II tendency), while a negative ANB indicates the mandible ahead of the maxilla (Class III tendency). This captures the clinicalLoader concept of jaw alignment that these three angles together aim to describe.

The other options touch on individual aspects: SNA indicating maxillary position and SNB indicating mandibular position are true, but they don’t convey the relational aspect that ANB provides. The option about Wits appraisal refers to a different measurement that uses the occlusal plane, not these three angles.