Suboxone Teeth Rot. Suboxone is a prescription sublingual film medication used to treat opioid addiction and opioid dependence. Suboxone oral film can be effective in helping patients handle withdrawal symptoms and damp down cravings for opioids, but there are potentially serious side effects noted with its use.
Suboxone Teeth Rot? Contact Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm at 214-390-3189.
Dependency. Suboxone contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, which means it has similar effects as an opioid drug but at a lower level. Buprenorphine changes the way the brain and nervous system respond to pain. Buprenorphine also decreases the pleasurable effects of opioids, making misuse of them less appealing. Suboxone can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings, but it can also lead to physical dependence if not taken as prescribed.
Abuse potential. Although Suboxone has a lower potential for abuse compared to full opioid agonists, it can still be abused, particularly when taken in higher doses or in combination with other substances.
Dental Side Effects. Suboxone has been touted as a safe medication to treat opioid addiction but the acidic components in Suboxone strips have been shown to cause severe enamel erosion and subsequent dental problems, including Suboxone teeth rot.
Suboxone Warning Label Change
A Suboxone warning label update was issued in 2022, warning of many patients experiencing painful tooth decay causing permanent dental damage. Since Indivior, the maker of Suboxone, was forced to add tooth decay to its warning label in January 2022, the statute of limitations ran out in January 2024 for states with 2-year filing limits, such as Texas.
According to filed lawsuits Suboxone films have a dangerous design defect that accelerates tooth decay, and that the drug maker did not disclose tooth loss side effects caused by Suboxone.
FDA Findings on Suboxone
The U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration, (FDA) initiated an investigation into the dental problems associated with the use of Suboxone, after receiving many complaints on its website. According to the FDA, since buprenorphine was approved, they identified 305 cases of dental problems (131 cases classified as serious) with buprenorphine medicines dissolved in the mouth.
These only include cases reported to the FDA or published in the medical literature. The average age of the patients was 42 years, some as young as 18 years were also affected. Most cases were in patients using the medicines for opioid use disorder (OUD).
In 26 instances, patients had no prior history of dental problems. Some patients reported dental problems occurring as soon as 2 weeks after OUD treatment began. In 113 reports two or more teeth were affected. In 71 cases, the most common treatment for these dental problems was tooth extraction/removal. In the remaining reports patients noted root canals, dental surgery, and crowns and dental implants.
How does Suboxone cause Dental Decay?
Suboxone is used in OUD, and some of the dental issues associated with Suboxone use include:
Dry mouth Xerostomia. Suboxone causes dry mouth as a side effect, by reducing saliva production Suboxone can increase the risk of dental decay and gum disease.
Tooth decay is accelerated by patients having a dry mouth and reduced saliva flow. Saliva is critical naturally in neutralizing the acids produced by bacteria in the mouth and washing away acidic food particles remineralizing tooth enamel. A decrease in saliva can increase the risk of tooth decay.
In other medical conditions where there are is reduced saliva production, those patients also develop accelerated tooth decay and loss of teeth. So the science is right on target regarding the importance of saliva production.
Sugar Content in Medication Form. Some formulations of Suboxone, especially the sublingual films or tablets, may contain sugars or other sweeteners that can contribute to tooth decay if the medication is held in the mouth for extended periods, allowing sugars to come into prolonged contact with teeth.
Gum disease. A dry mouth can also promote the risk of gum disease (periodontal disease). This periodontal disease condition can lead to bleeding gums, inflammation leading to receding gums, and then eventual tooth loss and painful dental extractions if left untreated.
Acidic Environment. The Suboxone formulation is acidic, with a 3.4 pH when dissolved in water, and so it contributes to the erosion of tooth enamel over time.
Suboxone Dental Lawsuit
All Suboxone lawsuits over tooth decay problems filed in federal courts are centralized and consolidated under U.S. District Judge Philip Calabrese in the Northern District of Ohio for coordinated pretrial proceedings.
As of February 2024, there were 51 Suboxone tooth decay lawsuits pending in multidistrict litigation within the Northern District of Ohio.
Dental Injuries Alleged In Suboxone Tooth Decay Lawsuits
- Dental Cavities
- Gum and mouth infections
- Tooth decay, tooth loss and the need for dental extraction
Suboxone and Teeth Rot? Contact Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm
If you or a loved one used Suboxone and have suffered serious dental problems including dental extractions, contact the attorneys at Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm to learn more about your legal rights. You can speak with one of our representatives by calling 214-390-3189, or by filling out the case evaluation form on this page.
Our law firm’s principal office is in Dallas and we have offices in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr Shezad Malik Law Firm represents clients in dangerous drug and dangerous medical device lawsuits nationwide.
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