Top-Rated Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawyer

Altman & Altman’s experienced Suboxone lawyers are taking on the medication’s manufacturer for failing to warn patients about severe tooth decay side effects

Drug manufacturers owe consumers a specific duty of care. This duty requires that they provide adequate warnings of potential risks. In the case of Suboxone, the manufacturer failed to warn consumers about the risks of dental injuries associated with their sublingual film strips.

If you used Suboxone before June 2022 and you suffered from severe dental health problems, you may be entitled to compensation. These dental issues may include serious tooth decay and cavities, gum and tooth infections, fractured or lost teeth, and total tooth loss.

To learn more about the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit and how we can help you fight for justice and the money you need to rebuild your life, contact Altman & Altman, LLP online or at 800-481-6199.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a sublingual film medication that is used to treat opioid dependence. Suboxone contains two main ingredients—buprenorphine and naloxone—that have proven critical in opioid addiction treatment.

Buprenorphine is a pharmaceutical chemical known as a partial opioid agonist, which works by activating the opioid receptors in the brain so that they are full. Since the opioid receptor is filled, the patient does not experience withdrawal effects, and equally as important, other opiates cannot fill those receptors.

A doctor who is Board-certified in Addiction Medicine described buprenorphine as an imperfect fit for the opioid receptor—or, to think of it another way, as a cap for the receptor. This means that when patients take Suboxone, their receptors are satiated but not “perfectly” or “completely.” This means the patient does not experience anywhere near the typical high or euphoria that other opiates like heroin or oxycodone cause.

And because the opiate receptors are filled or capped, a user can take street or pharmaceutical opiates, and they will just pass right over the already filled receptors and be processed out of the body.

Additionally, this property gives the user’s brain the sense that they have full opiates in their system and, therefore, prevents the patient from craving them.

Naloxone plays a much smaller role in the medication but is still important. It helps block the effects of opioids too, but it’s mainly added to Suboxone to discourage misuse of the medication; if Suboxone is injected, the naloxone will induce immediate withdrawal symptoms, ensuring that they and anyone who hears about it will not attempt to misuse the drug again.

Suboxone is Not the Problem, Failing to Warn User is the Problem

Buprenorphine (whether in tablet form or film version) has helped people millions of people with opiate dependence by reducing their cravings, stopping withdrawal symptoms, and preventing more dangerous drugs from attaching to the brain.

When a Suboxone strip is taken as prescribed (in this case, sublingually, meaning under the tongue or in the cheek area), it has revolutionized the treatment of addiction.

Suboxone treatment is part of a new approach to addiction treatment known as MAT or Medication Assisted Treatment. MAT is important because it immediately stops the user from having to continue to seek other types of opiates and, in some cases, from partaking in dangerous behaviors.

When it is used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, it’s an effective tool in the treatment of opioid dependence.

Unfortunately, while this medication is tremendous at helping people dependent on opiates to break the habit, Suboxone has some adverse side effects that users weren’t warned about. Specifically, Suboxone has been linked to severe dental problems such as tooth decay, oral infections, dental caries (cavities), gum infections, tooth loss, and a lot more.

Not only is this a particularly egregious side effect, but it was also allegedly hidden from patients and prescribers for 20 years.

Why Are People Suing the Makers of Suboxone?

The Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit primarily targets Indivior PLC (formerly Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals), the manufacturer of Suboxone. Plaintiffs have filed Suboxone tooth decay cases because they claim that they were not warned that the medication could cause severe tooth decay.

Lawyers helping injured clients file a Suboxone lawsuit are seeking compensation and justice in these federal Suboxone lawsuits for several reasons, primarily focusing on allegations related to anti-competitive practices that turned out to be dangerous and issues related to safety and the harmful side effects of the drug.

These legal actions claim that the plaintiffs should have been warned about the risks related to the film version of Suboxone and that Indivior participated in anti-competitive practices that put their patients at risk.

The case filed against Indivior by law firms and lawyers nationwide is known as Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) Film Marketing, Sales Practices, And Products Liability Litigation.

Suboxone is Being Sued for Anticompetitive Practices

Most of the tooth decay lawsuits have included some type of reference to the makers of Suboxone engaging in anticompetitive practices, causing the plaintiffs to be put at unnecessary risk of dental issues.

Indivior, the maker of Suboxone, held the patent on the medication for the allotted 20 years. During that time, they made a massive amount of money. When the patent was about to expire, meaning generics would be available from other companies, Indivior scrambled to find some way to extend their patent protection and maintain a monopoly on the market.

Mass tort lawyers allege that they quickly came up with or released a new product to do this.

Instead of Suboxone being delivered through a sublingual tablet like it was before, they would sell sublingual films and market them as more effective and efficient. This is a tactic known as “product hopping,” where a drug company slightly modifies its product (such as changing from a tablet form to a film form) to extend the life of its patent and block generic competitors from entering the market.

The reason this is relevant to the suboxone dental lawsuit is that since the new version of the drug needed to hit the market before the patent ended, Suboxone tooth decay lawyers allege they rushed the product to market without proper testing to make sure it did not have any dangerous side effects. But this would have required long-term testing, and Indivior didn’t have the time; their patent was expiring soon.

Suboxone is Being Sued for Dangerous Side Effects

Most of the suboxone lawsuits also focus on the allegation that the medication causes severe side effects, specifically related to oral health and serious dental problems.

Because of its acidic nature, Suboxone weakens tooth enamel and puts users at a higher risk for infections, tooth decay, and gum injuries. These injuries often require dental care, such as implants, crowns, fillings, and extractions.

Had Indivior, the drug manufacturer, done their due diligence and warned users about these risks, this could have been avoided. Therefore, they should be held accountable for their actions.

Timeline in the Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit – as of September 2024

We will update this page as more information becomes available about the Suboxone multidistrict litigation (MDL).

September 5, 2024 – Plaintiffs Fire Back Against Indivior’s Motion to Dismiss

As we reported on August 23, Indivior filed a Motion to Dismiss in the Suboxone MDL. Now, the plaintiffs have responded.

Indivior’s argument hinges on federal law preempting—or overriding—state-level claims, particularly regarding “failure to warn” and “design defect” issues. The defendant claims that federal regulations protect them when it comes to Suboxone’s approval and labeling.

However, the plaintiffs argue their claims aren’t preempted since they’re based on new information that Indivior failed to include in their labeling, as required by the FDA. According to the plaintiffs, Indivior knew of the risks associated with Suboxone films long before the June 2022 label change and failed to do anything about it.

In summary, the plaintiffs claim that Indivior had a responsibility to update their labeling and product design in light of new information—something they clearly neglected to do.

August 23, 2024 – Indivior’s Motion to Dismiss Rests on Flawed Arguments

Indivior has filed a partial motion to dismiss, claiming the design defect and failure-to-warn claims are preempted by federal law. This means that they believe federal law overrides the state-based claims that Suboxone users are making because the FDA’s approval of Suboxone’s label makes them invalid.

However, this argument overlooks the fact that plaintiffs can rely on newly acquired information predating the label change, as established in Wyeth v. Levine. This precedent requires manufacturers to update labels as new data becomes available, even if it was submitted previously.

Indivior also used the same basis to claim the FDA’s approval of the updated 2022 label should shield them, but plaintiffs are arguing that the evidence was available before that update, and that should have triggered earlier changes.

Finally, Indivior’s argument against the design defect claims falls flat. They argue that the claims are speculative, but the FDA has already approved a safer alternative,

Sublocade, which shows that a better option was available and should have been considered.

Indivior’s motion to dismiss is a common tactic in mass tort cases, but we expect Judge Calabrese to recognize that and reject it.

August 18, 2024 – New Evidence Strengthens Suboxone Tooth Decay Claims

A research letter published in the Journal of the American Medical Association six months after Suboxone’s June 2022 label update highlights a significantly higher risk of dental injuries for those using sublingual buprenorphine compared to other administration methods. And as this article discusses, it is now clear that people who used sublingual buprenorphine experienced severe tooth decay.

This research will play a pivotal role as Judge Calabrese reviews the adequacy of Suboxone’s warning to its patients. And since there is 10,000 Suboxone lawsuits all pointing to the same side effects, mainly severe tooth decay, we believe the Judge is likely to side with the plaintiffs.

August 14, 2024 – Suboxone’s “Warning” Highlights Indivior’s Failure to Protect Consumers

It’s clear to us that Indivior failed to properly warn both its patients and prescribing doctors about the dental risks associated with using Suboxone film strips. The paper insert included with Suboxone film strips is one of the weakest forms of warning Indivior could have possibly used. Drug manufacturers know most people won’t read those inserts—they’re too long, too complicated, and patients assume that if there is anything they really need to know about, someone will tell them or that the information will be clear on the packaging warning label.

Most people probably couldn’t read it even if they tried—not because they lack the ability, but because the insert is 33 pages of dense, technical jargon that would take some people hours to read.

In addition, Indivior never issued letters to doctors prescribing Suboxone—as they are required by law—which would have warned them about the dental risks so that they could be informed and pass any warnings on to their patients.

We believe this information alone makes it clear that Indivior has failed to fulfill its duty to properly inform both patients and doctors.

August 7, 2024 – Joint Status Report Indicates Tolling Agreement is Near in Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit

In what could be a major move in the Suboxone lawsuit, there has been movement with the long-anticipated tolling agreement. A status report was filed that indicates both parties are ready to finalize the tolling agreement.

Why do we think it will finally happen? Because Indivior has submitted a proposal for the plaintiffs to review, which is a huge indicator that they have agreed (at least in part) to the tolling agreement.

August 6, 2024 – Cases Drop Slightly, Likely Due to Anticipated Tolling Agreement

In recent weeks, the number of lawsuits filed in the Suboxone multidistrict litigation has decreased from 677 to 673. This is likely due to the pending tolling agreement. If passed, the tolling agreement will extend the deadline for plaintiffs, allowing them until around 2025 to file their lawsuits.

August 1, 2024 – Indivior Files Motion for Partial Dismissal of the Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit

Indivior has requested a partial dismissal of Suboxone lawsuits, citing federal preemption. Again, like the motion for our July 28th update, this motion is not likely to be granted. But here is what Subxone’s lawyers are claiming:

1. Design Defect Preemption: Subxone claims that federal law preempts (read: overrides) claims against Suboxone’s design because any modifications needed FDA approval, and since the FDA approved the design, Indivior cannot be held liable under state law.
2. Failure to Warn Preemption: Indivior argues federal law preempts any failure-to-warn claims since the FDA approved the label initially and after they changed it in June 2022. Therefore, since the FDA approved it, they shouldn’t be held accountable for any failures on the part of the label.
3. Claims Against Non-NDA Holders: Federal law prevents anyone other than the New Drug Application (NDA) holder from changing the drug label. Indivior claims it was not the NDA holder since it was not applying for a new drug, and therefore, it cannot be sued over any label changes.
4. Inadequate Allegations: Indivior’s final argument is that the lawsuits against the parent companies are baseless because the parent companies themselves did not manufacture, market, or sell Suboxone films.

Indivior requested that the lawsuit be dismissed by the Court with prejudice, which would permanently bar anyone from filing a similar lawsuit ever again.

We will keep you updated when the judge makes a decision. But once again, this motion proves the lengths pharmaceutical companies will go to to avoid taking responsibility for the harm they cause. “The parent company isn’t responsible for the subsidiary company.” Give me a break.

July 28, 2024 – Indivior Has Responded to the Plaintiff’s Complaint in Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit

Indivior has responded to the plaintiff’s master complaint and filed a motion to dismiss for “lack of personal jurisdiction.” Basically, this is a baseless legal move that the defendants know will not be approved. However, they charge by the hour, and every moment a defendant has to wait for their money, the likelihood of them settling for less goes up.

Indivior’s argument regarding personal jurisdiction is unlikely to succeed because it is clear that Suboxone has a wide presence in the United States and is, therefore, regulated by US laws.

The next status conference is scheduled for September 4, 2024, where a tolling agreement is anticipated.

July 20, 2024 – Judge Orders Indivior to Provide Antitrust and Patent Litigation Evidence

In a recent update in the Suboxone tooth decay legal battle, Judge Calabrese has made significant rulings after the July 18 conference. The Judge has mandated that Indivior must share key documents from both their resolved antitrust case of October 2023 and their patent litigation; we discussed this exact possibility in the July 12 update.

These documents are expected to reveal Indivior’s questionable marketing strategies and their efforts to escape any generic competition by switching Suboxone from a tablet to a film form—which, in the end, could be the move that caused a lack of proper testing for oral health risks.

Indivior previously settled the antitrust case for $385 million and the patent case for $102.5 million, which shows that they were not exactly innocent. The deadline for both parties to agree on information exchange is set for August 16, 2024.

It will be interesting to see how pivotal this information may be for the ongoing lawsuit.

As we look forward to the next conference on September 4, 2024, we hope for a tolling agreement so that litigation can move forward.

July 12, 2024 – Both Parties Have Agreed on an Agenda for the July 18th Case Management Conference in the Suboxone Lawsuit

Both parties have agreed on the agenda for the upcoming Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit conference on July 18which will likely resolve the issue of a tolling agreement.

The focus will soon shift to a heated debate over electronically stored information (ESI) since Indivior is very likely to contest certain “requests for production” related to Suboxone’s patent and antitrust issues, both of which they do not want anyone to see.

Additionally, there’s an ongoing issue about the discovery process. The plaintiffs are pushing back against what they see as unnecessary and premature demands for extensive information from their clients and instead are pushing for a more reasonable demand on the plaintiff’s attorneys.

July 5, 2024 – Both Parties Confident in Tolling Agreement for Suboxone Lawsuit After Plaintiffs Reveal the Possible Size of the Lawsuit

The legal teams for both the plaintiffs and Indivior are working to finalize a tolling agreement and are set to update Judge Calabrese by August 1, 2024. This agreement aims to protect future statute limitations without the need for individual lawsuits. Indivior seems to be playing ball because they have likely realized just how large this lawsuit will be since a recent agenda submitted by the plaintiffs showed  the Suboxone lawsuit lists over 10,000 names and is likely to reach as many as 50,000.

July 3, 2024 – Update on Number of Suboxone Cases Added in June

In June, there was a significant increase in the number of lawsuits added to the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit. A total of 319 new cases were filed, increasing the number of lawsuits from 358 to 677. This significant rise indicates that more people are learning about the lawsuit and how Suboxone may have caused their tooth decay. It’s very likely that the MDL will continue to grow at a similar pace.

June 24, 2024 – Plaintiffs Win Causation Issue in Suboxone MDL

This week, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs on a key causation issue. The defendants were pushing for the lawsuit to focus only on general causation, a move that the plaintiffs argued would extend the length of the MDL and waste resources. Thankfully, the judge agreed with the plaintiffs, stating that separating general causation from specific, individual discovery would be inefficient and complicated. This ruling underscores the strength of the plaintiffs’ argument and the efficiency of conducting all discovery together, which will help the Suboxone lawsuits move forward more smoothly.

June 11, 2024 – Leadership Development Committee Offers Experience for Hopeful Future MDL Leaders

This week, the court released Case Management Order No. 7 in the Suboxone MDL, which established a new Leadership Development Committee (LDC). This committee is designed to mentor attorneys and help them gain the skills and experience needed for them to take on a leadership role in any future multidistrict litigation cases.

Attorneys picked for the LDC will manage different assignments related to the Suboxone MDL lawsuit. In return for the opportunity, attorneys in the LDC are expected to work at a discounted rate.

Any lawyer interested in applying for the LDC must submit their applications by July 8, 2024.

May 30, 2024 – Plaintiffs Reject Defendants’ Bifurcation Proposal As Presumptuous and an Unnecessary Delay

As the number of Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits increases, and thousands more are expected as the statute of limitations for many states comes to a close, the plaintiffs’ attorneys are urging the court to reject a bifurcation proposal from the defense lawyers for Indivior, Inc. and Reckitt Benckiser LLC.

A proposal for bifurcation seeks to split the litigation into two phases: one that determines general causation (establishing the link between Suboxone and dental decay) and the other that leaves the rest of the discovery and litigation for later. Indivior’s proposal to bifurcate discovery involves selecting three to five lawsuits for a general causation phase and deferring other case-specific discovery.

However, the plaintiffs argue this would only unnecessarily delay the lawsuits. Plaintiffs argue that this approach assumes that the defendants will win the general causation dispute, which we believe is unlikely given the extensive scientific evidence linking Suboxone to tooth decay.

In an opposition brief filed on May 24, plaintiffs highlighted that “phased discovery” would unnecessarily prolong the MDL and waste resources. Judge Calabrese has ordered Indivior to respond by May 31, with oral arguments set for June 6.

May 14, 2024 – Details on Tolling Agreement, Though Not Likely

The lawyers in the plaintiffs’ steering committee have requested a tolling agreement in the Suboxone MDL.

A tolling agreement is a legal agreement between both parties that temporarily suspends the statute of limitations. This means the deadline for filing lawsuits related to the case would be extended, allowing plaintiffs more time to prepare their cases without losing the right to sue due to time constraints.

But how would a tolling agreement in the Suboxone lawsuit work, and what would the benefits be for either side?

Allows for Thorough Investigation: Plaintiffs would be able to continue gathering evidence and building their cases without the pressure of an imminent filing deadline. This is especially important in complex litigation, where gathering medical details can take considerable time.

Prevents Meritless Claims: In a situation like the Suboxone lawsuit, where the manufacturer has admitted their product causes dental health problems, a two-year statute of limitations can be extremely restricting. Plaintiff attorneys need time to look at each case thoroughly and decide which ones should be submitted to the MDL. If the deadline is coming up too fast, they will just rush and submit everything they have and weed out the meritless claims later.

Facilitates Settlement Negotiations: With more time available, both sides have the opportunity to negotiate a potential settlement without the immediate threat of needing a lawsuit. This can lead to more reasonable and mutually agreeable solutions.

Reduces Court Burden: A tolling agreement can also help the court by reducing the flood of lawsuits and preventing it from becoming overwhelmed by many simultaneous filings.

Reduces Burden on Defendants: Just like the Courts, the defendants benefit from a tolling agreement because it prevents them from also being flooded with new cases.

Encourages More Participation: Potential plaintiffs who may be hesitant to join the lawsuit or not know about it can now participate since they have more time to find out about the Suboxone MDL and consider their options.

Does this mean anyone could file a lawsuit past the deadline?

No, evidence would still have to show that all the damages occxured before the statute of limitations ran out. However, it just wouldn’t require the case to be filed before that deadline.

May 10, 2024 – Number of Suboxone Claims Filed into MDL Rises

There are 486 Suboxone lawsuits consolidated in the multidistrict litigation. This is a significant increase from around 40 cases at the beginning of April.

This rapid increase is expected to continue, especially as statutes of limitations approach their deadlines.

May 1, 2024 – Discovery Order and Potential Tolling Agreement are the Focus in Suboxone Lawsuit MDL

In the second status conference hearing for the Suboxone MDL, Judge Calabrese heard arguments from both sides on how discovery should be handled and discussed Indivior’s desire to focus on general causation, as we discussed in the previous update.

Additionally, the concept of a tolling agreement is gaining attention in this case. A tolling agreement is a legal arrangement between both parties that temporarily suspends the statute of limitations to allow plaintiffs to add cases with care and to prevent a storm of cases from being thrown at the defense and courts all at once. However, both parties need to agree to a tolling agreement in order for it to be used in the Suboxone MDL.

April 21, 2024 – General Causation and Future Schedule

This week, Judge Calabrese led the second status conference for the Suboxone MDL in Ohio. Here are the key takeaways:

• Upcoming Deadlines: The court set a deadline of April 23, 2024, for both sides to submit their arguments about whether Suboxone could generally cause harm. Follow-up documents are due by May 24, and any replies to these are due by May 31. The court will hold a hearing on June 6 to decide on this issue.
• Indivior’s Focus on General Causation: Indivior’s lawyers want the Court to require a discovery phase to first prove that Suboxone “generally” causes any kind of harm to teeth. They believe that if the plaintiffs can’t prove this, the rest of the case doesn’t matter. This approach, Indivior argued, would save resources, money, and the Court’s time if the answer turned out to be “no.”
• Indivior’s Contradiction: This is all a little baffling since Indivior already acknowledged potential dental risks when using Suboxone when they updated their label. They would NOT have added this label had there been no data to back it up, and they would have fought the FDA tooth-and-nail over it. However, they did not. This would end the general causation argument for most people.
• Our Position on Handling Causation: We suggest the court handle any concerns over general and while also addressing specific causation (the individual claims) at the same time. This would be more efficient, reduce redundancy, and ensure each case gets proper attention.
• Next Steps: The next hearing is on May 14, 2024, to discuss possibly pausing the statute of limitations deadlines through something called a tolling agreement.

March 2024 – Status Conference Held for Suboxone MDL

The first Suboxone status conference was held, and the impression from the hearing was that Judge Calabrese is eager to push the litigation forward, which is positive news for all involved. The defendants have proposed a gradual approach to the pretrial discovery process, focusing initially on establishing general causation. However, the plaintiffs are against splitting the discovery process into phases, especially regarding general causation, arguing that it slows down the path to getting trial dates and, subsequently, to settlement.

On March 5, a federal judge in the US District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania approved a $385 million settlement between a group of direct purchasers and Indivior Inc., the maker of Suboxone. This settlement resolved claims that Indivior abused its monopoly over Suboxone. This settlement is not part of the tooth decay MDL lawsuit over personal injuries, but it does show Indivior’s willingness to settle.

Finally, the initial status conference in the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit was held on March 7th, and eighteen members were appointed to the Plaintiff’s Steering Committee by Judge Calabrese.

We expect that the MDL is going to see a rush of new cases over the next three months or so.

February 2024 – Suboxone MDL Update

On Friday, February 4th, 2024, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ruled to create an MDL Suboxone class action lawsuit. All federal lawsuits against Indivior regarding their failure to warn consumers about the risks associated with using the drug were consolidated into a single case for the purposes of pretrial proceedings. This streamlines everything and prevents countering rulings in state courts across the country. Once the pretrial elements are done, the cases will be tried separately on their own merits.

January 2024 – Suboxone Litigation MDL

On January 25, a hearing was held to determine whether or not to convert the Suboxone lawsuit into an MDL class action lawsuit. The results of that hearing should be coming out any day now.

December 2023 – Update on Suboxone Lawsuits

While only 15 Suboxone lawsuits are pending with the US District Court at this time, hundreds or more likely thousands are being investigated by defective drug lawyers nationwide, which they will then add to the potential MDL if the case is eligible.

There are also worries about the statute of limitations, which in many states is two years for defective drug cases. Since Suboxone added a warning label about tooth decay side effects in January 2022, this deadline is fast approaching. It’s important to file your lawsuit as soon as possible.

November 2023 – Suboxone Lawsuit Update

After 14 new Suboxone cases were filed in November, the plaintiff’s lawyers filed a motion to consolidate the Suboxone cases into multidistrict litigation (MDL).

October 2023 – Update on Suboxone Lawsuits

A man from Ohio’s lawsuit was filed in federal court after he was prescribed Suboxone to treat his opioid use disorder. He took the sublingual film for over a year before he started to suffer from severe tooth decay. This eventually led to a permanent loss of multiple teeth.

Later that month, Indivior agreed to settle a lawsuit brought against them by drug wholesalers. The wholesalers alleged that Indivior unlawfully restricted manufacturers from making generic versions of the medication. They paid $385 million to resolve claims that stated Suboxone was created to suppress generic alternatives.

At the same time, Indivior also faced claims alleging that they were defrauding the government with a kick-back scheme. The scheme involved using a company called Express Scripts, which gave Indivior additional financial benefits for promoting Suboxone.

January 2022 – Suboxone Update From FDA

In January 2022, the FDA announced that they received reports of sublingual buprenorphine causing dental problems. Because of this, they forced Indivior to add a warning to the prescription and patient medication guide.

While Suboxone is a valuable medication for treating opioid use disorder, it can indeed increase the risk of tooth decay and dental problems. Here are the key reasons why:

How Does Suboxone Cause Tooth Decay?

Suboxone causes dental injuries because of mechanisms related to the medication. Here is what we know so far.

Acidity: Suboxone has an acidic pH of around 3.4 when dissolved in water. This acidity, similar to citrus, can wear away tooth enamel and make teeth more susceptible to bacteria and decay. Since Suboxone films have to sit in the mouth and make contact with your teeth for 30 minutes, it makes the problems much worse.

Dry Mouth: A common side effect of Suboxone is dry mouth which is a decrease in saliva production. Saliva is crucial in protecting your teeth and neutralizing harmful acids in the mouth. Without sufficient saliva, bacteria can thrive and cause tooth decay.

Prolonged Contact: As we mentioned, Suboxone strips or films are dissolved under the tongue or in the cheek, meaning they stay in contact with your teeth for an extended period of time. This continuous exposure makes the acidity and dry mouth much worse than if you swallowed a pill.

Other Contributing Factors: There is no doubt that for some people, neglectful oral hygiene due to addiction and the struggles that come with it can cause tooth decay, making the impact of Suboxone on dental health even worse. But not everyone who is dependent on opiates is a “junkie.” Lots of people are legitimately injured or were victims of the opiate epidemic and got to the point where they could not function without opiates. In an attempt to get off the dangerous “full” opiates, they turned to MAT and Suboxone.

Evidence for Suboxone Causing Tooth Damage

Evidence in the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit comes from various sources, including patient reports and medical studies. Here are the main reports that have connected Suboxone to tooth decay so far.

• A study in 2016 found that people who take Suboxone are more likely to experience tooth decay than those who do not.
• Another study states that Suboxone users have more cavities and issues with tooth erosion than those who do not use buprenorphine-containing drugs.
• In 2022, a JAMA study found that Suboxone users have a much greater risk of dental issues than people who used other drugs for opioid addiction. They also found that users who already had dental problems were at an increased risk for further issues.

Who Can File a Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit?

In 2022, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned potential users about the risk of dental problems associated with the use of buprenorphine. This warning was added to patients’ medication guides in order to properly educate those who use Suboxone and other buprenorphine-containing drugs, albeit 20 years late.

To qualify for compensation from the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit, you must meet the following criteria:

• Have been prescribed Suboxone for opioid addiction or pain management
• Have used Suboxone sublingual film for at least six months
• Suffered a dental injury or dental health problem after the use of Suboxone, such as tooth decay, tooth loss, tooth fracture, cavities, gum disease, or gum injuries
• You must have had routine dental care before the use of Suboxone
• You must have used Suboxone before the FDA released warnings in June 2022

Injuries in Suboxone Lawsuits

Dental injuries may not seem like a big deal, but they can cause severe pain, stress, the need for painful surgery, and financial hardship. Like other facial injuries, damage to the teeth can also cause trouble with self-confidence and image, resulting in mental health decline.

The American Dental Health Association’s Health Policy Institute cost survey found that the total cost for replacing just one lost tooth can range from $3,100 to $5,800, not exactly a sum of money most people have lying around.

However, injuries include more than just the loss of one tooth. Users of Suboxone sublingual film may experience the following:

• Severe Cavities
• Cracked teeth
• Tooth infections
• Gum infections
• Root canal
• Advanced tooth decay
• Tooth fractures
• Tooth loss

These injuries led to the need for painful and expensive procedures like:

• Multiple Fillings
• Crowns
• Tooth extractions

What Compensation Can You Recover for Suboxone Lawsuit?

Compensation for Suboxone tooth decay damages can vary depending on your specific injuries and treatment. However, cases have been settled for five to six figures. Your compensation depends on the damages you’ve incurred due to your injuries.

In a defective drug lawsuit, like a suboxone lawsuit, plaintiffs can be compensated for various damages, like financial losses and suffering.

1. Medical Bills: This includes compensation for past, present, and future medical expenses related to the dental injuries caused by Suboxone. It covers hospital stays, dental visits, medication costs, dental surgery, and any other healthcare expenses related to the side effects of the drug.
2. Lost Wages: Plaintiffs can also claim compensation for the income they lost because they were unable to work because of their injuries or because of time they had to take off work for appointments or recovery time.
3. Pain and Suffering: This is a common type of damage that is usually lumped in as a figure related to the amount of medical bills you have. Pain and suffering compensates you for the physical pain, emotional suffering, and physical discomfort you experienced.
4. Punitive Damages: Punitive damages are rare in most personal injury cases because the burden of proof is so high. Unlike other damages that compensate you for your losses, punitive damages are meant to punish the defendant for their harmful behavior and deter similar actions. Punitive damages are usually awarded in cases involving intentional misconduct or gross negligence. In the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits, punitive damages are liely.

Understanding Indivior’s Actions and the Need for Punitive Damages

The people at Indivior and the company as a whole knowingly disregarded the safety of potential users and ignored risk factors that showcased how Suboxone could affect dental health. Because they allegedly mislead the community with false information about the drug, they should be required to pay out additional compensation in the form of punitive damages.

Punitive damages will also help to ensure that Indivior and similar companies won’t continue to make these mistakes or behave in a negligent manner. They’re a way of saying, “We will hold you accountable for your actions,” and we hope that eventually, pharmaceutical companies will learn that they cannot intentionally and recklessly put consumers at risk in this way.

Until then, we will continue to help victims of reckless pharmaceutical companies like Indivior receive the compensation they deserve.

Steps to Take if You Used Suboxone Before June 2022

If you used Suboxone sublingual film before June 2022 and experienced tooth decay or other dental injuries, there are a few steps you’ll want to take.

1. Don’t stop taking your medication until you’ve spoken to your doctor.
2. If you have noticed issues with your teeth, contact a dentist and schedule an evaluation.
3. Gather and preserve any related medical records, including prescription information and dental records. You should also keep any bills related to dental costs like surgery, check-ups, further prescriptions, etc.
4. Contact Altman & Altman for help filing your Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit. Working with an experienced lawyer is the best way to receive full and fair compensation for your damages.

How Can Altman and Altman Lawyers Help You?

The experienced personal injury lawyers at Altman & Altman LLP believe that recovering from an injury shouldn’t severely impact your life, especially if that injury could have been prevented. If somebody—whether it’s another person or a huge international corporation—caused your injury, you are entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, medications, and any future treatment.

Our experienced mass tort attorneys will handle your Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit to make sure that you receive compensation for your damages. We have years of experience working on defective drug claims. Whether we are settling high-profile cases and taking them to trial, we do everything it takes to win.

Contact Us Today to Speak With an Experienced Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawyer

When a medication that’s supposed to help you injures you instead, it can be a stressful experience. You shouldn’t have to go through it alone, and you shouldn’t have to ‘just deal with it. Our team of experienced defective drug attorneys is here to ensure that you receive full, fair compensation and that drug manufacturers are held accountable for their actions.

To learn more about the Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit and how we can help you, contact us online or at 800-481-6199.