Which term describes the tooth surface facing the lips on the front teeth?

• A. Labial surface
• B. Lingual surface
• C. Occlusal surface
• D. Buccal surface

Answer: (A)

The surface facing the lips on the front teeth is the labial surface. This term describes the outward-facing side of anterior teeth (like incisors and canines) toward the lips. It’s distinct from the buccal surface, which faces the cheek and is more relevant for the back teeth, and from the lingual surface, which faces the tongue. The chewing surface on back teeth is called the occlusal surface, so for the lip-facing front tooth surface, labial is the precise term.