Abstract
We describe a case of alveolar osteonecrosis that developed after herpes zoster infection of the trigeminal nerve. An 83-year-old woman was referred to our hospital by her dentist because of illfitting dentures. The patient had a history of herpes zoster, which developed about 1 month after the first medical examination at our hospital. The intraoral findings were redness, swelling on the right side of the mandibular gingiva, and exposure of alveolar bone. Panorama X-ray films revealed both bone resorption and detachment on the right side of the mandible. Blood examinations showed no evidence of inflammation, but histopathological examinations revealed inflammatory cell infiltration of granulation tissue. After about 3 months of anti-inflammatory treatment for osteomyelitis of the mandible, exposure of the alveolar bone on the right side of the mandibular gingiva as well as bone resorption and separation on the right side of the mandible had resolved on the panorama X-ray films. At present, 1 year after initial presentation, the patient is making satisfactory progress.
