OBJECTIVEThe goal was to analyze the outcome of surgical therapy for buccal carcinoma.STUDY DESIGNA retrospective chart review was done.SETTINGThe study took place in a major tertiary‐care hospital.RESULTSTwenty‐seven patients received first‐time surgical therapy for buccal carcinoma. Treatment was surgery alone in 15 and surgery followed by radiation therapy in 6 patients. Six additional patients received surgical salvage for radiation therapy failure. Composite resection of the tumor was performed in 16 patients (59%). Five‐year observed actuarial survival rates were 100%, 45%, 67%, and 78%, and locoregional recurrence rates were 0%, 27%, 44%, and 0% for stages I to IV, respectively. The 5‐year actuarial survival rates were 80% after surgery and 82% after surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. Patients who underwent surgical salvage after radiation therapy failure had a 1‐year survival rate of 0%.CONCLUSIONAggressive surgical treatment of buccal carcinoma may result in better survival rates.SIGNIFICANCEThe article analyzes buccal carcinoma in regards to the patterns of presentation, treatments rendered, and patterns of failure.