The use of tongue-depressing stents for neuropathologic chewing.

Comatose patients may develop a neuropathologic chewing reflex that results in self-inflicted oral trauma. Loss of coordination between the tongue and chewing cycle leads to maceration of the tongue and infection. The use of a tongue-depressing stent can keep the tongue from acting as a bolus and prevent perpetuation of the reflex chewing cycle and resultant self-injury.