Which nerve supplies the buccal gingivae along the cheek area, commonly involved in mandibular procedures?

• A. Infraorbital nerve
• B. Long buccal nerve
• C. Mental nerve
• D. Nasopalatine nerve

Answer: (B)

The long buccal nerve is the one that supplies the buccal gingivae along the cheek area. It’s a sensory branch of the mandibular division of the trigeminal nerve that runs across the cheek and provides innervation to the buccal mucosa and the buccal gingiva of the lower molars and premolars. This makes it the nerve most closely associated with the cheek-side gingiva described in mandibular procedures, and it’s the target of the common long buccal nerve block used during these treatments.

The other nerves supply different regions: the infraorbital nerve serves midface and maxillary areas, the mental nerve supplies the chin and lower lip mucosa and the labial gingiva of the lower front teeth, and the nasopalatine nerve supplies the palatal tissues of the anterior maxilla.