Buccal

Buccal is a directional term used by dentists to describe the surface of a posterior tooth that faces the cheek, as opposed to the lingual surface that faces the tongue. The corresponding term for front teeth (which face the lips rather than the cheeks) is "labial." Knowing buccal versus lingual is essential when reading a treatment plan: a "buccal pit cavity on tooth #3," for example, tells the dentist exactly where on the molar to restore. Buccal also describes the cheek mucosa itself, as in the buccal vestibule where local anesthetic is often injected.