Family Friendly & Specialty Dentists in London, UK
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Structure and Origin
- The buccal nerve is a branch of the anterior division of the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
- It is the only sensory branch of the anterior division.
- The buccal nerve originates from the anterior division of the mandibular nerve (CN V3).
- It is a sensory branch of the mandibular nerve.
- The buccal nerve is the only sensory branch of the anterior division.
- It connects with the buccal branches of the facial nerve on the surface of the buccinator muscle.
- The nerve gives off many significant branches.
Course and Relations
- The buccal nerve passes between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle.
- It passes underneath the tendon of the temporalis muscle.
- The nerve courses deep to the masseter muscle.
- Finally, it travels anteroinferiorly upon the surface of the buccinator muscle.
- The buccal nerve pierces the buccinator muscle.
Distribution
- The buccal nerve provides sensory innervation to the skin of the cheek.
- It also innervates the buccal mucosa.
- The nerve supplies sensory innervation to the buccal periodontium.
- It innervates the gingiva of the mandibular/lower molar and second premolar teeth.
- The buccal nerve also issues proprioceptive fibers into the buccinator muscle.
Clinical significance
- Buccal nerve block (long buccal nerve block) is indicated for procedures involving the mucosa adjacent to the posterior molar teeth.
- The injection site for buccal nerve block is distal and buccal to the third molar.
- The needle penetrates 1-2mm as the nerve lies directly below the mucosa.
- A buccal nerve block is often performed after an inferior alveolar nerve block for specific procedures, such as extraction of mandibular molar teeth.
- The buccal nerve may be damaged by surgical incisions near the external oblique ridge of the mandible.
Notable Points
- The buccal nerve passes between the two heads of the lateral pterygoid muscle and underneath the tendon of the temporalis muscle.
- It courses deep to the masseter muscle and pierces the buccinator muscle.
- The buccal nerve connects with the buccal branches of the facial nerve.
- It provides sensory innervation to the cheek, buccal mucosa, buccal periodontium, and gingiva of specific teeth.
- The buccal nerve is commonly blocked for dental procedures and may be at risk during surgical incisions near the external oblique ridge of the mandible.
