DOI: 10.36347/sjmcr.2014.v02i03.023

Pages: 183-187

Vanishing bone disease (VBD) is a rare, chronic condition of massive osteolysis characterized by proliferation of vascular channels, and leading to resorption and progressive disappearance of the affected bone. Since its first description by Jackson in 1838, 150 or more cases have been described in the literature, but only a very few of these are reported in the jaws. The exact cause of the disease is not known and its natural history and prognosis unpredictable. We report here, a case of VBD affecting the mandible of a young Ghanaian man who initially presented with acute severe toothache and Trismus, of sudden onset, that progressed to unusually severe chronic pain similar to neuralgic pain involving the right inferior alveolar nerve.