Abstract: The buccal fat pad (BFP) originally described as an anatomic structure without any obvious function. For a long period it was considered to be a surgical nuisance. However during the past three decades, the BFP has become a well-established tool in oral and maxillofacial surgery for reconstruction of small to medium sized acquired or congenital soft tissue and bone defects in the oral cavity. The aim of present article is to review the database available regarding BFP, including its anatomy, clinical usage, success and complications and to ascertain the reason for its preference over other modalities in various applications in oral surgery.