Published March 2026 — Updated Regularly

Suboxone Dental Lawsuit 2026: What You Need to Know

Thousands of people who took Suboxone film to treat opioid use disorder are now dealing with a second problem: their teeth. Here's everything you need to know about the Suboxone dental injury litigation in 2026.

The Short Version

Suboxone sublingual film (buprenorphine/naloxone) has a highly acidic pH of ~3.4. Placed under the tongue daily for months or years, the film erodes tooth enamel and causes serious dental injuries — decay, fractures, and tooth loss. The FDA issued a warning in 2022. Patients who weren't warned and suffered dental damage are filing lawsuits against the manufacturer, Indivior PLC.

Who Is Being Sued?

The defendants in Suboxone dental injury lawsuits include:

• Indivior PLC and Indivior Inc. — current manufacturer and marketer of Suboxone film, spun off from Reckitt Benckiser in 2014
• Aquestive Therapeutics — formerly known as NovaDel Pharma, developed the sublingual film technology and manufactured Suboxone film under contract

What Are the Claims?

The core legal theories in Suboxone dental injury lawsuits include:

Failure to Warn

Plaintiffs allege that Indivior and Aquestive knew, or should have known, about the dental risk from pre-approval clinical data and post-market adverse event reports, and failed to adequately warn patients, prescribers, or dentists. This is the primary theory in most pharmaceutical injury cases.

Negligence

Plaintiffs allege that defendants failed to exercise reasonable care in testing the product, monitoring post-market safety data, and updating warnings when risks became apparent.

Strict Liability — Design Defect

Plaintiffs may allege that the film's formulation itself — specifically its acidic pH — constitutes a design defect, particularly given that alternative formulations with less harmful pH profiles may be achievable.

Where Are Cases Being Filed?

Cases are being filed in federal courts nationwide. There is active consolidation occurring, with cases being gathered into multidistrict litigation (MDL) proceedings. Cases filed in different federal districts are being transferred and coordinated for pre-trial proceedings. The Northern District of Ohio has been identified as a key venue given Indivior's U.S. presence.

Who Qualifies?

The basic eligibility criteria are:

• Used Suboxone sublingual film (not tablets) for at least 6 months
• Suffered significant dental damage — decay, fractures, tooth loss, extractions, or major dental procedures
• Dental damage developed or worsened after starting Suboxone
• Within the applicable statute of limitations (discovery rule may apply — see your state page)

Important: Patients who believed their dental problems were from prior substance use are specifically relevant to this litigation. The discovery rule means your filing window may start from when you learned — or should have learned — that Suboxone caused the damage, not from when it appeared.

What Compensation May Be Available?

No settlements have been finalized. Cases are in the active litigation phase. Potential damages include:

• Past dental treatment costs
• Future dental treatment costs (implants, dentures, ongoing care)
• Pain and suffering
• Lost wages
• Loss of enjoyment of life

No attorney can guarantee a specific recovery. Cases are evaluated individually.

What Should You Do Now?

If you used Suboxone film and suffered dental damage:

1. Request your records — pharmacy records showing Suboxone film prescriptions, dental records showing damage and treatment
2. Check your state's deadline — find your state here and don't wait
3. Get a free case evaluation — there is no cost to find out if you qualify