title: The reproducibility and repeatability of the Wits analysis.
abstract: Since the introduction of the Wits analysis, the validity of the method has been questioned, as the functional occlusal plane in particular has been cited as a major source of error. This may be either subjectively placed or defined by existing cephalometric methods. A study is therefore reported of the repeatability (intraobserver comparison) and reproducibility (interobserver comparison) of the Wits assessment on the basis of a double series of tracings by each of two observers. No statistically significant difference was found for the repeatability of distance AO-BO by either observer, but interobserver repeatability was less satisfactory, and the mean values varied by approximately 75%. It was also found that the highest single error between two series of tracings was 3.1 mm (observer A) and 5.8 mm (observer B).
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Chau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003766:Dental Occlusion; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015588:Observer Variation; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results