抄録
We report two cases of alveolar osteonecrosis and tooth loss caused by trigeminal herpes zoster infection.
A 69-year-old man and a 73-year-old man were referred to our hospital after the onset of herpes zoster infection of the third ramus of the right trigeminal nerve. The first patient had alveolar osteonecrosis and spontaneous teeth exfoliation (5 4 3) 15 days after the onset of herpes zoster infection. He was given a diagnosis of mandibular carcinoma by his dentist. The second patient had teeth mobility (4 3) 4 days after the onset of herpes zoster infection. He was given a diagnosis of acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis by his dentist. In both patients antibiotic therapy and local irrigation were performed, and the separated necrotic bone was removed step by step. In the second patient the right lower canine, which had grade III tooth mobility, was extracted 55 days after treatment. After final removal of the necrotic bone, cure was obtained.
Although both patients showed a typical clinical course of herpes zoster infection, their dentists could not make a correct diagnosis. Therefore it is necessary to be aware that alveolar osteonecrosis and tooth loss can be caused by trigeminal herpes zoster infection. Minimum surgical treatment may be effective for such complications.
