buccal

Buccal refers to the cheek and to structures and processes associated with that region. The term derives from Latin bucca, meaning cheek.

In anatomy, the buccal region includes the buccal cavity, the space inside the mouth between the inner cheek and the teeth, bounded laterally by the buccinator muscle. The buccal mucosa lines the inner cheek and the vestibule. The buccal fat pad lies within the cheek, and the buccal nerve (long buccal nerve) provides sensation to the mucosa of the cheek and adjacent gingiva. The buccal surfaces of the teeth are the faces oriented toward the cheek.

Clinically, the buccal area is important in dentistry and oral medicine. The mucosa is subject to irritation, trauma, and lesions such as frictional keratosis or ulcers, and it can be a site for biopsy, excision of lesions, or local anesthesia. The buccal region can be involved in various infections and inflammatory processes and is a common site for procedures affecting the cheek and surrounding structures.

In pharmacology, buccal administration places a drug between the gum and cheek for absorption through the buccal mucosa. This route can provide rapid systemic absorption and avoids hepatic first-pass metabolism, making it useful for potent or highly permeable drugs. Formulations include buccal tablets, films, and solutions. Limitations include dependence on saliva flow, mucosal integrity, and limited capacity for large doses or poorly permeable compounds. Buccal delivery is distinct from sublingual administration, which uses the area under the tongue.