Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit

If you have had dental problems after using prescription Suboxone film, you may qualify to file a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit.

Only a licensed lawyer can tell you if you qualify to join a Suboxone lawsuit. We’ve vetted national law firms to provide you with the resources you need to file a case.

“People should contact a lawyer if they have noticed any serious dental issues following the use of Suboxone sublingual strips. These dental problems range from cavities to tooth decay to broken or lost teeth,” mass torts and product liability attorney Trent B. Miracle told Drugwatch.

Injuries accepted in lawsuits include cavities, at least two teeth lost, tooth fractures, tooth decay, tongue injuries and gum injuries.

Depending on how long it’s been since your diagnosis, you may not qualify even if your state is listed in the table above. Our legal partners or another Suboxone lawyer can tell you for sure.

Contact a law firm right away to avoid losing your right to file a claim. The statutes of limitations are very tight in this litigation. If your diagnosis was more than 10 years ago, you must be able to get your own dental records.

People are filing Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits because they developed serious dental problems after using Suboxone Sublingual Film, a brand-name medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) or addiction. It contains the active ingredients buprenorphine and naloxone. Lawsuits claim manufacturer Indivior knew or should have known the risks but failed to warn medical providers and consumers.

“Unfortunately, the delivery system has a very high acidic content. And when you use it — which is typically three times a day — you’ve got to keep it in your mouth for about 10 minutes each time to get the full benefit of the dosage,” Miracle told Drugwatch. He explained that the high acidic content throughout the day can result in tooth breakage, loss, decay, and other serious dental issues.”

We’ve heard from countless people who have shared emotional stories about how dental problems after Suboxone use have affected them. These people have worked hard to fight opioid addiction and get their lives back, only to suffer from the loss of their teeth and self-esteem. Many have had to pay tens of thousands of dollars in dental bills. And worse yet, others can’t afford to fix their teeth.

“I was known for my smile, and now I’m having these dental issues [after I used Suboxone]. It went from having a few cavities to my whole mouth is cavities. I lost six teeth, so far,” one Suboxone patient, D.S., told us. “It’s so embarrassing. It takes away from my general happiness, my comfort, and my self-esteem. I don’t go out anymore with my friends. If I’m not working, I’m home.”

We’ve heard from countless people who have shared emotional stories about how dental problems after Suboxone use have affected them. These people have worked hard to fight opioid addiction and get their lives back only to suffer from the loss of their teeth and self-esteem. Many have had to pay tens of thousands of dollars in dental bills. And worse yet, others can’t afford to fix their teeth.

“I was known for my smile, and now I’m having these dental issues [after I used Suboxone]. It went from having a few cavities to my whole mouth is cavities. I lost six teeth, so far,” one Suboxone user, D.S., told us. “It’s so embarrassing. It takes away from my general happiness, my comfort and my self-esteem. I don’t go out anymore with my friends. If I’m not working, I’m home.” 

As of July 2025, there were 890 Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits pending in multidistrict litigation (MDL) within the Northern District of Ohio.

So far, there have not been any court-approved settlements announced publicly for Suboxone cases related to dental problems, nor have any trials been scheduled. There is a separate pending antitrust MDL related to Suboxone.

“As warned by the FDA on Jan. 12, 2022, serious dental issues are being reported following use of the sublingual Suboxone delivery system, a strip that contains buprenorphine and dissolves in the mouth. This Suboxone film looks and dissolves much like breath-freshening strips you would buy at a gas station or a grocery store,” Miracle told Drugwatch.

Based on estimates from lawyers and law firms, a Suboxone lawsuit settlement payout may range from $10,000 to $150,000, depending on the case. Some estimates have been as high as $500,000.

These numbers are speculative, and no global settlement has been announced by plaintiffs or defendants.

Prior to people filing Suboxone lawsuits for dental problems, Indivior and Reckitt Benckiser faced an antitrust Suboxone class-action lawsuit that claimed limited competition caused consumers to overpay for the drug. In 2019 and 2020, the FTC reached settlements totaling $60 million.

Consumers received the first payments in May 2021, and the remaining class members received payments in April 2023.

The FTC sent about 51,875 class-action settlement payments to consumers. These people allegedly overpaid for Suboxone because of a “deceptive scheme [by Reckitt Benckiser Group and Indivior] to thwart lower-priced generic competition with the branded drug Suboxone.”

In deceptive marketing claims unrelated to the tooth damage lawsuits, Indivior pleaded guilty to felony charges associated with Suboxone’s deceptive marketing and agreed to pay $600 million to resolve criminal and civil liability in July 2019. Allegedly, the company deceived doctors and health plans, claiming Suboxone was safer and less susceptible to abuse than similar drugs.

Indivior “admitted to an aspect of the scheme alleged in the indictment. Specifi cally, Indivior Solutions admitted that, in October 2012, it sought to convince MassHealth to expand Medicaid coverage of Suboxone Film in Massachusetts and sent MassHealth false data indicating that Suboxone Film had the lowest rate of accidental pediatric exposure (i.e., children taking medication by accident) of all buprenorphine drugs in Massachusetts, when in fact, it did not,” according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The DOJ also reached a $1.4 billion resolution with Reckitt Benckiser, Indivior’s former parent company. Then in October 2019, Reckitt Benckiser reached a $700 million settlement deal with six states for improper marketing.

In October 2023, Indivior settled an antitrust case for $385 million. The settlement resolved claims from direct purchasers of the drug claiming the drug maker illegally tried to monopolize opioid addiction treatment.

A lawyer can help you gather the correct evidence of tooth decay or other injuries for your Suboxone case. Your attorney will also file your lawsuit and then negotiate a Suboxone settlement or prepare your case for jury trial.

“As with any case, people should carefully research who they hire to represent them,” Miracle said. “In complex cases such as this, it is especially important to retain counsel with resources and years of experience litigating against multinational pharmaceutical companies.”

Like with most product liability injury claims, lawyers offer free case evaluations for Suboxone teeth lawsuits. Law firms don’t collect their fees unless they recover a settlement or jury verdict on your behalf.

Suboxone is a prescription medication approved by the FDA in 2002 to treat opioid use disorder. It combines two active ingredients: buprenorphine (a partial opioid agonist) and naloxone (an opioid antagonist).

It’s available in tablet form or as a dissolvable film that can be placed under the tongue.

The drug works in two ways. Buprenorphine partially binds to receptors in the brain to relieve opioid withdrawal symptoms and reduce opioid cravings without causing a high. Naloxone blocks opioid receptors in the brain to help prevent Suboxone abuse by triggering withdrawal symptoms.

Indivior manufactures brand-name Suboxone, and it’s also available in generic form as buprenorphine and naloxone.

The most common side effects of Suboxone include headache, nausea and vomiting. However, Suboxone may have more serious side effects, such as dental problems and life-threatening breathing problems.

Common side effects may be temporary and last for only a few days or weeks. If these don’t go away or bother you, you can talk to your medical provider.

Serious Suboxone side effects are rarer when patients take the drug exactly as directed. However, if you experience any of the side effects listed below, you should talk to your doctor right away.

This isn’t a complete list of all side effects. If you experience any changes in your health or notice new symptoms, make sure you talk to your doctor right away.

Dental Damage

In 2022, the FDA issued a safety communication warning that it had received reports of serious dental problems with Suboxone, including “tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and loss of teeth.” These problems can be serious and affect people with no history of dental issues.

Some evidence suggests that Suboxone’s acidity (pH of 3.4) is too high, causing dental problems. High acidity can alter the bacteria on teeth, increasing the risk of cavities. Patients take Suboxone about three times a day, and Suboxone film takes about five to 10 minutes to dissolve. This exposes teeth to the acidic environment multiple times a day for a prolonged period.

In addition to the 2022 safety communication, the FDA required Indivior to place a warning on the drug’s label to inform the public about the dental problem reports.

However, Suboxone had been on the market since 2002 without warnings, potentially exposing many patients to tooth damage. Some people who experienced dental problems after using Suboxone films filed lawsuits.

Dental Side Effects Can Be Devastating

One Suboxone patient shared her experience with us under the initials D.S. to protect her privacy. She suffered dental problems for years and didn’t know it was related to Suboxone until recent research came out. She felt the manufacturer withheld information about the risks to consumers.

She’s had multiple cavities, several teeth pulled and multiple root canals. It’s affected her self-esteem and quality of life.

“I don’t have the first clue how I will ever afford getting new teeth because I can’t go on like this. I am in constant pain, and I cannot even properly eat. It’s unfair and devastating. And the worst part is that this is not a medication that can abruptly be stopped and involves a lengthy weaning process,” D.S. told Drugwatch.

Suboxone Withdrawal and Dependence

While people use Suboxone to treat opioid dependence, it can also be addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms if patients stop taking the drug too quickly.

The severity of symptoms can vary and depends on the strength of the dose and how long a patient has been on the drug. Symptoms may last for as long as a month. Most physical withdrawal symptoms occur within the first 72 hours.

To prevent these symptoms, avoid stopping Suboxone abruptly. Be sure to get professional guidance to gradually taper off the medication.

If you experience any side effects from suboxone, make sure you tell your medical provider right away. If you have dental problems, talk to your dentist.

Talk to your medical provider about Suboxone alternatives or if you can taper off the drug safely.

The FDA encourages people to submit reports about side effects to its MedWatch Program.

If you’re considering taking legal action against Indivior for severe dental damage, make sure you get your medical and dental records. Keep any receipts or prescription notes about your history of using Suboxone.

Suboxone isn’t for everyone and has varying levels of safety in pregnant people, children and older adults.

Before taking Suboxone, make sure you tell your medical provider about any drugs you’re taking and any health conditions you have.

If you or a loved one has experienced severe dental or other complications after taking Suboxone, you may qualify for a lawsuit. Drugwatch can conduct 20
a free, no-obligation evaluation to see if your case qualifies. Reach out today to be connected with a trusted law firm with experience in Suboxone litigation.