Suboxone Dental Lawsuit — Frequently Asked Questions

The lawsuit involves claims that Suboxone sublingual film (buprenorphine/naloxone) — made by Indivior PLC — caused severe dental injuries including tooth decay, fractures, and tooth loss. The film's acidic formulation (pH ~3.4) erodes tooth enamel with repeated daily use. Plaintiffs allege that Indivior and Aquestive Therapeutics knew about the dental risk from clinical trials but failed to warn patients or dentists for years.

You may qualify if: (1) you used Suboxone sublingual film (the dissolving strips, not tablets) for at least 6 months; (2) you experienced significant dental damage — tooth decay, fractures, tooth loss, extractions, root canals, or major dental procedures — after starting Suboxone; (3) your dental problems were not present or were significantly worse after starting Suboxone; and (4) you are within your state's statute of limitations.

Yes — and this is one of the most important aspects of this litigation. Many patients, and even their dentists, assumed dental damage was from prior substance use. But the FDA's own warning confirms that dental problems occurred in patients with no prior dental issues. The discovery rule in most states means your filing deadline starts from when you learned (or should have learned) the connection between Suboxone and your dental damage. Many patients only recently became aware of this connection, so you may still be within your window.

Qualifying injuries include: severe tooth decay or cavities (especially in previously healthy teeth), cracked or fractured teeth, tooth loss or teeth that required extraction, oral infections or abscesses, need for root canals, crowns, dentures, bridges, or dental implants. Minor, isolated cavities may not qualify on their own — the focus is on significant dental damage that required treatment or caused tooth loss.

The primary focus of this litigation is on Suboxone sublingual film (buprenorphine/naloxone). If you used a generic buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual film, consult with an attorney — your case will depend on which manufacturer's product you used. The issue relates specifically to the sublingual film delivery mechanism.

Deadlines vary by state — typically 2-3 years from when you discovered or should have discovered the connection between Suboxone and your dental injuries. Some states are shorter: Louisiana and Kentucky have 1-year periods. Some states are longer: Maine (6 years), Minnesota and Nebraska (4 years). The discovery rule is particularly important here — many patients only recently connected their dental damage to Suboxone. Don't assume you've missed your window. Consult an attorney to find out your specific deadline.

In most states, the statute of limitations for pharmaceutical injuries starts not when the damage occurred, but when you knew or reasonably should have known that Suboxone caused your dental injury. Since many patients attributed their dental problems to past substance use (not Suboxone), and since the FDA only issued its warning in June 2022, many people are only now making the connection. Your deadline may start from 2022 — or even later if you just learned about the link.

No settlements have been finalized in the Suboxone dental injury litigation. Cases are still being filed and consolidated. Potential compensation may include past dental treatment costs (fillings, extractions, root canals, implants, dentures), future dental treatment expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages during dental procedures, and other damages. No attorney can guarantee a specific outcome. Legitimate attorneys will evaluate your case on its merits.

No. Attorneys handling Suboxone dental injury cases work on contingency — meaning they only get paid if you receive compensation. The initial case evaluation is free and confidential. There are no upfront costs to you at any stage of the process.

Three key reasons: (1) Statute of limitations deadlines are real — miss yours and you lose the right to file. (2) Evidence is easier to gather while memories are fresh and records are more readily available. (3) Earlier-filed cases in mass tort litigations often have structural advantages in any eventual settlement framework. Do not wait.