A federal judge has cleared the way for growth among hundreds of pending Suboxone lawsuits. These cases claim that the opioid-replacement drug caused severe dental decay.
Judge Philip Calabrese, who is overseeing the consolidated lawsuits in the Northern District of Ohio, issued an order allowing up to 100 plaintiffs to join the litigation through a single complaint.
This is a departure from how lawsuit filings often work. Typically, each individual plaintiff is required to file a complaint unique to their situation.
In the court order, Judge Calabrese said the new directive was “an effort to minimize the expenses of all parties, and to promote judicial efficiency.”
The new filing rules could grow the litigation by clearing barriers to filing individual lawsuits and streamlining the process.
These complaints will only require a single filing fee, lowering the cost of joining the lawsuits.
As of this month, 896 Suboxone lawsuits were pending in multidistrict litigation (MDL). There has been significant growth since just 15 claims were originally consolidated into an MDL in 2024.
Lawsuits Claim Suboxone Caused Serious Dental Issues
A growing number of Suboxone lawsuits have been filed over claims that use of the drug can result in catastrophic dental issues.
Suboxone is generally used to treat opioid addiction. One version of the drug is available as a film or strip placed in the mouth to dissolve.
In 2022, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that dental problems had been reported after using the dissolving version of the drug.
The reported issues included cavities, tooth decay, oral infections and tooth loss. The FDA then required that a dental warning be added to the drug.
Some people who were not warned of these risks went on to develop serious dental issues after using Suboxone.
Lawyers continue to investigate and accept new Suboxone lawsuits. You may be eligible if you suffered tongue and gum injuries, cavities, tooth fractures, decay or the loss of at least two teeth.