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Suboxone

What is Suboxone?

  • Suboxone is a prescription medication used to combat opioid addiction.
  • Suboxone was approved by the FDA in 2002.
  • The medication is offered as an alternative for individuals battling opioid dependence.
  • Suboxone has become useful and beneficial in treating addiction.
  • Its primary active ingredients are buprenorphine and naloxone.
  • Suboxone mitigates misuse while easing opioid withdrawal symptoms.

What are the lawsuits about?

  • The lawsuits are NOT calling for a recall of the medication.
  • The lawsuits are about the drugmakers’ failure to warn people about the risk of dental harm from taking Suboxone sublingual strips.
  • A failure to warn claim means that a product’s manufacturer did not properly communicate potential adverse effects of a product to the people who use it.
  • The original labels for Suboxone carried no warnings regarding the risk of tooth decay and other dental injuries associated with their prescribed use even though the drugmakers knew about the risk.
  • Since users were not aware of the risk, they did not know to take precautions which could have mitigated their dental injuries.
  • It was not until 2022 that the FDA required the drug maker to add the warning of the risk of dental decay to the medication’s label.
  • Even with the added warning, many users still do not know about the risk or that their dental problems may have been caused by the medication.

Why Does Suboxone Cause Tooth Decay?

The Ph of Suboxone

  • Suboxone has a low pH, with a value of 3.4 when dissolved in water. This means it is acidic.
  • The mouth naturally maintains a pH between 6.2 and 7.0.
  • When the mouth’s pH becomes too acidic, it creates conditions where the tooth enamel starts to dissolve and decay.
  • Because Suboxone is dissolved in the mouth, it causes the pH in a person’s mouth to become acidic which can then cause the breakdown of tooth enamel resulting in tooth decay.

What are the potential dental problems with Suboxone use?

  • Tooth decay
  • Tooth loss and extraction
  • Infections
  • Cracked or broken teeth
  • Cavities
  • Root canal
  • Dental caries (loss of enamel, dentine, etc.)
  • Crown or crown replacement
  • The need for oral surgery

Who Qualifies for a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit?

  • You may be eligible for compensation from the makers of Suboxone if:

    o You were prescribed Suboxone film strips to treat opioid addiction

    o You used Suboxone film strips for at least 30 days

    o You experienced worsening dental health, tooth erosion, or other dental injuries.

Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits are beginning to increase likely because of the following factors:

  • There is increased awareness that Suboxone can cause tooth decay
  • Suboxone is a popular medication used to treat opioid addiction
  • As people’s use of the medication continues, more people are starting to experience tooth decay

What are Multidistrict Litigations (MDLs)?

Multidistrict litigation (MDL) is a special federal legal procedure designed to speed the process of handling complex litigations by consolidating cases and addressing all pretrial procedures in one court.

The chosen district court will oversee discovery and pretrial litigation, ultimately ensuring that consistent rulings follow.

After pretrial proceedings are completed, a few cases that are representative of the issue at hand will be selected for bellwether trials.

What are bellwether trials?

Bellwether trials are a small consolidation of lawsuits, taken from the larger group of similar cases in an MDL, to be tried first.

The bellwether trial is essentially a practice run to help anticipate the results of the future similar cases.

Tell Us Your Story

If you’ve suffered tooth decay because of Suboxone films, contact us today. Our team is skillfully trained in recovering significant damages for clients. Let us help you today.

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Kelley Uustal Trial Attorney
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