Which cephalometric measure assesses the anteroposterior position of the mandible relative to the cranial base?

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Multiple Choice

Which cephalometric measure assesses the anteroposterior position of the mandible relative to the cranial base?

SNB angle measures the anteroposterior position of the mandible relative to the cranial base. It is the angle at Nasion formed by Sella–Nasion and Nasion–B point, so it reflects how far forward or backward the mandible sits in relation to the cranial base. A typical value is about 79 degrees; a larger SNB suggests a prognathic mandible, while a smaller SNB indicates a retrognathic mandible. The maxillary counterpart is SNA, which uses the point A location to assess the maxilla’s position. The subnasal angle is a soft-tissue facial angle, not a primary skeletal measure of mandible position, and the mandibular incisor angle concerns incisor inclination rather than the skeletal AP relation of the mandible.

SNB angle measures the anteroposterior position of the mandible relative to the cranial base. It is the angle at Nasion formed by Sella–Nasion and Nasion–B point, so it reflects how far forward or backward the mandible sits in relation to the cranial base. A typical value is about 79 degrees; a larger SNB suggests a prognathic mandible, while a smaller SNB indicates a retrognathic mandible. The maxillary counterpart is SNA, which uses the point A location to assess the maxilla’s position. The subnasal angle is a soft-tissue facial angle, not a primary skeletal measure of mandible position, and the mandibular incisor angle concerns incisor inclination rather than the skeletal AP relation of the mandible.

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