ANB

ANB is an acronym with multiple meanings across different fields. The most widely used meaning in dental and craniofacial analysis is the ANB angle, a cephalometric measure used to assess the sagittal relationship between the maxilla and mandible.

In orthodontics, the ANB angle is defined as the angle at the nasion formed by the lines to points A (subspinale) and B (supramentale). It is commonly reported on lateral cephalometric radiographs. Normal values are centered around 2 degrees. An ANB angle larger than about 4 degrees typically indicates a Class II skeletal relationship (maxilla relative to the mandible), while an angle less than 0 degrees suggests a Class III relationship. However, the ANB angle is sensitive to the anterior position of the nasion and to vertical facial growth patterns, so it is often interpreted alongside other measurements (such as SNA, SNB, or the Wits appraisal) to determine true jaw relationships.

Beyond orthodontics, ANB is used as an acronym for various organizations, programs, and entities. Its exact meaning depends on context, and readers should use surrounding terms to determine which ANB is being referred to.