Use of an oral sensory feedback device in the management of jaw-opening dystonia.

Jaw-opening dystonia (JOD) is a type of oromandibular dystonia in which patients suffer from prolonged lateral pterygoid muscle contraction causing sustained jaw opening. Patients have difficulty eating and speaking, often drool uncontrollably, and suffer from a poor quality of life. Therapeutic options for this disease are limited, making this a challenging problem to address. We describe the use of a novel sensory feedback device (SFD, Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Irvine, CA) in addition to conventional treatment with oral medication and botulinum toxin A (Botox) injections in the management of JOD. This device provides immediate relief of dystonic symptoms and allows patients to depend less on other methods of treatment.