Buccal Surface of Mandibular Third Molar Tooth

Description

The buccal surface is the aspect of the mandibular third molar tooth that faces towards the cheek and vestibule. It is one of the five surfaces of the crown of the tooth, the other four being the lingual, mesial, distal, and occlusal surfaces.

The buccal surface meets the:

- mesial surface at the mesiobuccal angle;

- distal surface at the distobuccal angle;

- occlusal surface at the buccoocclusal angle.

For descriptive purposes, the buccal surface of a mandibular tooth can be divided by two horizontal lines into three portions. In a superior to inferior direction, these are the:

- occlusal third;

- middle third;

- cervical third.

Furthermore, the buccal surface of a tooth can also be divided by two vertical lines into three portions. In a mesial to distal direction, these are the:

- mesial third;

- middle third;

- distal third.

Overall, the buccal surfaces of the posterior teeth (premolars and molars) are the equivalents to the labial surfaces of the anterior teeth (incisors and canines). Collectively, the labial and buccal surfaces are known as the vestibular surfaces, or facial surfaces.