Painful Post-traumatic Trigeminal Neuropathy Occurs After Third Molar Extraction.

Painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PTTN), or anesthesia dolorosa, is a condition on the same continuum as trigeminal neuralgia. Unlike trigeminal neuralgia, trigeminal neuropathy is a more significant state of neural pathology resulting in constant pain opposed to the episodic nature of trigeminal neuralgia. This typically occurs after facial trauma or as a complication from some treatments for trigeminal neuralgia. Useful diagnostic features that can help distinguish PTTN are an identified trauma to the nerve and other clinical features such as facial swelling. The presented case describes a classic presentation after third molar (wisdom tooth) removal and a review of pertinent literature.