Suboxone (buprenorphine-naloxone) was once a blockbuster product for Indivior Incorporated, an international pharmaceutical company. The medication relies upon an opioid agonist ingredient which enables former users to control cravings, withdrawal, and other enduring side effects.
Released in the early 2000s, Suboxone quickly became one of the major breakthroughs in the treatment of opioid dependence. In order to expand its market share, Indivior Inc. devised various iterations of the drug, including oral tablets and transmucosal films.
However, sublingual Suboxone strips in particular have been causally linked to tooth erosion and decay about which Indivior remained silent. As a result, Indivior has been listed in dozens of product liability lawsuits that aim to hold the company accountable and compensate Suboxone users for the severe injuries they have sustained.
Dolman Law Group is currently accepting clients for Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits and offers free legal advice to those who wish to learn more about their rights and available recourse.
How Suboxone Damages Teeth
The target of the ongoing Suboxone tooth erosion lawsuits is Indivior’s sublingual film. When users place the thin transmucosal strip beneath their tongue, they must wait around ten minutes for it to dissolve entirely. During this waiting period, the highly acidic ingredients in Suboxone, buprenorphine and naloxone, can drastically reduce oral pH. In addition, the medication can diminish salivary flow and increase the oral virulence of Streptoccocus mutans.
With repeated use, these side effects contribute to the demineralization of tooth enamel, which is a protective coating that preserves dental health and hygiene. In the absence of appropriate precautions, like waiting 30 minutes after administration to brush your teeth, users may be at a heightened risk of suffering various oral health emergencies.
Suboxone Users Report Serious Dental Complications
The causal mechanisms behind Suboxone tooth decay are fundamentally the same, meaning some users may experience multiple dental complications after taking the medication. If you have experienced any of the following complications after taking Suboxone, it is imperative to seek treatment and to speak with your prescribing physician about potential discontinuation:
Suboxone Tooth Decay
When oral pH levels drop, the subsequent chemical imbalance can degrade tooth enamel and render Suboxone users vulnerable to serious dental decay. The symptoms of tooth decay may manifest themselves in a variety of ways, including painful toothaches and bloody gums.
Suboxone Periodontal Disease and Gum Damage
The sublingual Suboxone film has also been causally linked to oral infections which often afflict the gums. These infections may arise from cavities and heightened levels of oral bacteria, and in more severe cases can result in periodontal disease. The serious complication often requires extensive dentistry, on account of its potential to cause gum recession, inflammation, and lasting tooth damage.
Suboxone Dental Caries
Whenever oral bacteria levels increase from Suboxone use, individuals may be at a heightened risk of developing dental caries, which refer to small perforations or holes in the teeth that can give rise to dental infections. Otherwise known as cavities, dental caries can result in rapid tooth decay if left untreated and further contribute to a serious imbalance in the mouth’s sensitive environment.
Suboxone Dry Mouth
Teeth require a healthy and steady flow of saliva in order to regulate oral pH. Whenever this “salivary buffering” decreases, individuals may develop dry mouth (xerostomia). In Suboxone users, dry mouth only catalyzes tooth erosion and increases an individual’s risk factor for dental caries, oral infections, and other related conditions.
Suboxone Tooth Extraction and Crown Replacement
Continual damage to the teeth and recurrent gum infections often require Suboxone users to seek extensive dentistry. In some cases, this may obligate an individual to undergo tooth extractions, root canals, and crown replacements in order to correct the considerable damage the medication has caused.
Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuits
Indivior Incorporated was and is required by law to inform Suboxone users and prescribing physicians of the potential complications and side effects the medication can cause. However, the British company failed to honor this obligation and may be held liable for the injuries users have sustained.
Dozens of Suboxone users have already filed product liability lawsuits against Indivior Incorporated and other companies involved in the production, distribution, and advertisement of the defective drug. In order to determine your eligibility to file a suboxone tooth decay lawsuit for potential compensation, we strongly advise you to speak with a qualified Suboxone lawyer today.
Who Can File a Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit?
The majority of the Suboxone tooth decay actions target Indivior’s inadequate safety warning prior to the FDA’s mandatory label update, in 2022. However, if you received a Suboxone prescription prior to 2022 and later developed severe dental complications, you may be eligible to file suit.
Statutes of limitation for defective drug lawsuits vary between jurisdictions and may establish different legal deadlines for eligibility. A failure to file a claim before the statutes of limitation expire may permanently bar an otherwise eligible plaintiff from seeking the compensation and accountability they deserve.
Common Damages in Suboxone Tooth Decay Claims
Defective drug litigation is a common practice area in personal injury law and permits plaintiffs to seek financial assistance for their injuries. Compensation figures are calculated by reckoning the unique losses plaintiffs have sustained, which means every estimate is tailored to the specific circumstances of a given claim.
Damages are commonly subdivided into economic and non-economic categories. Economic damages in Suboxone claims include the costs of dental work, prescriptions, and lost wages and income. Intangible losses are an internally diverse set of damages that cover pain and suffering, decreased quality of life, or mental anguish.
Why Choose Dolman Law for Your Suboxone Lawsuit
Indivior’s failure to warn the public of Suboxone’s risks and its track record of illicit business schemes demonstrate the company’s blatant disregard for user safety. At Dolman Law Group, PA, our legal team is prepared to confront Indivior and any of its close business partners.
The most important objective for our nationally recognized practice is to inform the public of their rights and hold outrageously negligent actors to account. In order to realize this commitment, we offer round-the-clock support to our clients and guarantee to defend their rights to the fullest extent while they tend to their wellbeing.
Contact Dolman Law Group for Help with Your Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuit
In addition, our lawyers have over 120 years of combined experience across multiple sectors of personal injury law, including defective drug litigation. From our fight against the negligent manufacturers of acetaminophen to the makers of Tepezza and Uloric, we have acquired the expertise to successfully prosecute massive corporations.
Suboxone users had a right to expect honesty and forthrightness from Indivior Incorporated. Instead, the company misled them and abused their trust, causing countless injuries. Dolman Law Group recognizes the physical and financial fallout linked to Suboxone use and provides costless consultations to prospective clients to assist them in making the decision to file a Suboxone tooth decay lawsuit. In addition, we offer our services on a contingency fee basis, ensuring that our clients won’t pay unless we resolve their claim.
If you believe that your Suboxone use caused considerable dental complications, contact us today at (727) 451-6900.