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Oral Surgery · single question

A buccal space infection is most commonly caused by infection from which teeth?

  1. Maxillary anterior teeth
  2. Maxillary premolars and mandibular premolars/molars
  3. Mandibular third molars
  4. Mandibular molars
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Correct answer: B. Maxillary premolars and mandibular premolars/molars

  • A. Maxillary anterior infections spread to canine/vestibular space — not primarily buccal space.
  • B. Correct. The buccal space is primarily infected by: Maxillary premolars and molars (buccal root apices above the attachment of the buccinator) AND mandibular premolars and molars (buccal root apices below the buccinator). This is a primary space infected directly from odontogenic sources.
  • C. Third molar infections spread to submandibular/pterygomandibular/parapharyngeal spaces — not primarily buccal space.
  • D. Mandibular molar infections spread to the submandibular space (when root apices are below mylohyoid) — not primarily buccal space.

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