There are many dental terms that people may not be familiar with. In this article, we will discuss one of the most important terms: teeth surfaces. The teeth surfaces include distal, mesial, buccal, lingual, labial, occlusal, and incisal. Each surface has a different name and function. Knowing these surfaces can help patients better understand their dental health and what to expect when they visit the dentist.
Quick Overview of Teeth Surfaces:
- Distal: The distal surface is the back surface of the tooth. It is the portion of the tooth away from the midline of the face.
- Mesial: The mesial surface is the front surface of the tooth. It is the portion of the tooth towards the midline of the face.
- Buccal: The buccal surface is the cheek side of the tooth.
- Lingual: The lingual surface is the tongue side of the tooth.
- Labial: The labial surface is the lip side of the tooth.
- Occlusal: The occlusal surface is the chewing surface of the back teeth.
- Incisal: The incisal surface is the biting edge of the front teeth.
Distal vs Mesial
Mesial Tooth Surface: Blue
The distal and mesial surfaces are the most commonly confused teeth surfaces. Both surfaces are located on the sides of the teeth, aka the surfaces where two teeth touch each other. This is the location where people are instructed to floss their teeth.
The distal surface is the back surface of the tooth and is away from the midline of the face. This is highlighted in green in the diagram above.
The mesial surface is the front surface of the tooth and is towards the midline of the face. This is highlighted in blue in the diagram above.
It is important to know the difference between these surfaces because they are often used in dental procedures. For example, when a dentist is flossing teeth, they will use the distal and mesial surfaces to clean in between teeth.
Lingual vs Buccal and Labial
Buccal Tooth Surface: Blue
Labial Tooth Surface: Red
These teeth surfaces are used to describe the surfaces of the teeth that are either facing towards the tongue or away from the tongue.
The lingual surface is the tongue side of the teeth and is highlighted in green in the diagram above. It is named lingual because the word can be broken down from the Latin roots “ling” meaning tongue and “ual” meaning pertaining to.
The buccal surface is the cheek side of teeth and is highlighted in blue in the diagram above. It is named buccal because the word can be broken down from the Latin root “bucca” meaning cheek.
The labial surface is the lip side of teeth and is highlighted in red in the diagram above. It is named labial because the word can be broken down from the Latin root “labium” meaning lip.
These surfaces are important to know because they are often used in dental procedures. For example, when a dentist is brushing teeth, they will use the lingual and buccal surfaces to clean the teeth.
Occlusal and Incisal
Incisal Tooth Surface: Blue
The occlusal and incisal surfaces are the teeth surfaces that are used for biting and chewing. They are located on the top surface of teeth.
The occlusal surface is the chewing surface of back teeth and is highlighted in green in the diagram above.
The incisal surface is the biting edge of front teeth and is highlighted in blue in the diagram above.
Disclaimer
The contents of this website, such as text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be substituted for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nothing on this website constitutes the practice of medicine, law or any other regulated profession.
No two mouths are the same, and each oral situation is unique. As such, it isn’t possible to give comprehensive advice or diagnose oral conditions based on articles alone. The best way to ensure you’re getting the best dental care possible is to visit a dentist in person for an examination and consultation.
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