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Dentistry vocabulary · Teeth and Oral Anatomy

Buccal

Meaning in dentistry, with examples

/ˈbʌkəl/adjectiveCommon term

In dentistry, buccal means: Describes the surface of a back tooth that faces the cheek, or anything related to the cheek. For front teeth, the surface facing the lips is usually called labial.

In Turkish: bukkal, yanak tarafı

How it is used

Common in charting (B), local anesthesia (buccal infiltration) and oral medicine (buccal mucosa). Some textbooks use facial for both buccal and labial surfaces.

Example sentences

  1. There's a small buccal cavity near the gum line on the upper molar.

  2. A buccal infiltration should be enough for this tooth.

Common collocations

  • buccal surface
  • buccal mucosa
  • buccal infiltration
  • buccal cusp
  • lingualDescribes the surface of a tooth that faces the tongue. In the upper jaw this surface is usually called palatal, because it faces the palate.
  • mesialDescribes the side of a tooth that faces towards the midline of the dental arch, the line between the two central incisors. It is the opposite of distal.
  • distalDescribes the side of a tooth that faces away from the midline of the dental arch, towards the back of the mouth. It is the opposite of mesial.
  • occlusalDescribes the biting or chewing surface of a back tooth, or anything to do with the way the upper and lower teeth meet.

More terms: Teeth and Oral Anatomy

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.