Buccal Corridor
The dark space between the teeth and cheeks visible when smiling.
The buccal corridor is the dark space visible between the outer surfaces of the upper posterior teeth and the inner cheek when smiling. A narrow buccal corridor (teeth fill more of the smile width) is generally considered more attractive than a wide one. However, some buccal corridor is natural and necessary — a smile with zero buccal corridor can appear overly wide or denture-like. Buccal corridor width is influenced by arch width, number of teeth visible during smiling, lip musculature, and facial width. Orthodontic treatment can reduce buccal corridors through arch expansion. In prosthetic dentistry, wider dental arches are designed to minimize excessive buccal corridors. Research suggests that laypersons notice buccal corridors less than dental professionals, and moderate corridors are well-accepted. The key is proportion — the smile width should be about 70-100% of the intercommissural distance.