Palatal
In dentistry, palatal refers to the direction toward the palate (palatum). The term is used to describe the position or orientation of teeth or parts of teeth in the upper jaw.The palatal surface of a tooth is the side facing the palate, in contrast to other surfaces such as buccal (facing the cheek) or mesial/distal (toward the front/midline or toward the back). In the lower jaw, the term lingual is used instead, as these surfaces face the tongue.
Palatal is used for precise descriptions of tooth surfaces, for example, when diagnosing caries, identifying tooth misalignments, or planning dental restorations. Derived from the Latin word palatum (palate), it plays a central role in diagnostics and treatment in the upper jaw.