Published March 2026

Can You Sue for Dental Damage from Suboxone? Yes — Here's How

Last updated: May 2026

Yes — you can sue the manufacturers of Suboxone for dental damage caused by the film formulation. Thousands of patients are already doing so. Federal lawsuits are consolidated in an MDL in the Northern District of Ohio, and individual state-court cases are also being filed. Here is what you need to know about whether you qualify and how these cases work.

The Legal Basis: Failure to Warn and Defective Design

Suboxone dental injury lawsuits are product liability claims. They allege two main theories:

Failure to warn: Indivior PLC and Aquestive Therapeutics knew — or should have known — that Suboxone sublingual film causes dental damage. They had access to adverse event reports, understood the film's acidic pH (~3.4), and knew that the acidic formulation would cause enamel erosion. Despite this knowledge, they did not include a dental warning on the label until forced to by the FDA in June 2022. Patients used the drug for years without warning — and suffered dental injuries they would have tried to prevent.

Design defect: The film formulation was inherently dangerous due to its highly acidic pH, and the manufacturer failed to design a safer alternative (or to recommend the safer tablet formulation for patients concerned about dental health).

Who Qualifies to File a Suboxone Dental Lawsuit?

You may qualify if you meet all of these criteria:

• You used Suboxone sublingual film — not tablets or injections, specifically the dissolving strip formulation (brand name Suboxone, generic buprenorphine/naloxone film, or similar)
• You used it for a significant period — typically 6 months or more, though shorter periods may qualify if damage was severe
• You suffered significant dental damage — including tooth decay, fractures, extractions, infections, or need for major dental work like implants or dentures
• The damage occurred during or after your Suboxone use — causation is established by the timeline and pattern of injury
• You are within the statute of limitations — which varies by state and may begin from when you knew or should have known that Suboxone caused your injury

What About Prior Dental Problems?

A history of dental problems does not automatically bar your claim. Many patients with prior dental issues still have valid claims if Suboxone caused significant worsening of their dental health. Courts and juries can evaluate the extent to which Suboxone — as opposed to pre-existing conditions — contributed to a patient's dental injuries.

That said, patients with no prior dental history who developed severe decay after starting Suboxone film present the clearest cases. The FDA's 2022 warning specifically noted that problems occurred in patients with no prior dental health issues — evidence that can be used in your favor.

Who Are You Suing?

The primary defendants in Suboxone dental injury litigation are:

• Indivior PLC — the primary manufacturer and marketer of Suboxone film from 2010 through the present
• Aquestive Therapeutics (formerly MonoSol Rx) — the company that developed and manufactures the film technology under license

Your prescribing physician is generally not a target — this is a product liability case against the manufacturer, not a medical malpractice case.

What Compensation Is Available?

Compensation in Suboxone dental injury cases may include:

• Past dental treatment costs (extractions, fillings, root canals, implants)
• Future dental treatment costs (ongoing reconstruction, maintenance)
• Pain and suffering from dental damage and treatment
• Lost wages if dental issues affected work
• Emotional distress from tooth loss, disfigurement, or embarrassment
• Out-of-pocket costs for dental care not covered by insurance

How to Start

The first step is a free case evaluation with an attorney who handles Suboxone dental injury cases. During this evaluation, you will describe your Suboxone use history, your dental injuries, and your treatment. The attorney will assess whether your case meets the filing criteria and advise on next steps.

Most Suboxone dental injury attorneys work on contingency — meaning you pay nothing unless they recover compensation for you. There is no financial risk to getting an evaluation.