Abstract: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is often secondary to an acute attack of herpes zoster. Inflammation and edema appear in the virus-infected neural canal, compressing the nerves and causing pain. When the herpesvirus infects the second or third branch of the trigeminal nerve, the mucosa in the innervated area may experience unilateral pain or dysodynia for several days, or pain in multiple teeth in a quadrant may also occur. The symptoms are similar to pulpitis pain. Sometimes patients experience severe unilateral pain without developing a rash, which increases the difficulty of clinical diagnosis. This paper reports the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with toothache caused by postherpetic neuralgia. The etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment were discussed.

Key words: non-odontogenic toothache, herpes zoster, trigeminal nerve, postherpetic neuralgia