Mental nerve neuropathy as a result of primary herpes simplex virus infection in the oral cavity. A case report

We describe a 25-year-old woman who had mental nerve neuropathy. The symptom was attributed to herpes simplex virus infection, which appeared as herpetic gingivostomatitis 4 days after the extraction of the lower third molar. This case suggests that herpes simplex virus can infect the inferior alveolar nerve through an extraction wound and can induce mental nerve neuropathy.