Atypical trigeminal neuralgia of the mental nerve: a case study

Any division or branch of the trigeminal nerve can exhibit signs and symptoms of neuralgia. Those who treat patients suffering with craniofacial pain are frequently charged with determining the cause of illusive pain complaints and if objective signs are not discovered, the patient may not be treated and may be forced to seek help elsewhere. Trigeminal neuralgia-like pain is often seen in the mental nerve region of the mandible, but frequently, there is no radiographic evidence for the source of such pain. In the current case report, it was discovered that the patient's mental nerve pain was cause by an irregular surface of the anterior portion of the mental foramen. Successful treatment was provided by surgically recontouring the edge or lip of the mental foramen without injury to the mental nerve.