Alveolar bone necrosis and tooth loss. a rare complication associated with herpes zoster infection of the fifth cranial nerve.

Eleven case reports involving herpes zoster infection associated with alveolar bone necrosis and tooth loss were reviewed in order to develop a patient profile for this rare combination of physical findings. The clinical course of a 56-year-old white woman with herpes zoster infection of the fifth cranial nerve and related alveolar bone necrosis, tooth loss, and oroantral fistula development is reported. The etiology and management of herpes zoster infection associated with destructive oral sequelae are discussed.