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Suboxone ToothDecayLawsuits

The opioid crisis continues to spread across the country. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that opioid-involved death rates have increased by at least 15 percent. Over 75 percent of the close to 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved an opioid. Wave after wave of opioid overdoses and deaths have spurred the nation into action and increased the demand for meaningful medical intervention.

Suboxone emerged as one of the leading drugs to help combat opioid dependency. Unfortunately, the drug marketed to help ease dependence on opioids ended up causing harmful side effects of its own. At Law Experts, we want to help individuals who were negatively impacted by Suboxone understand their legal rights. There may be steps you can take to pursue meaningful compensation for your injuries and financial losses that were caused by taking the drug Suboxone.

Where do you begin? Start by understanding some basic information about Suboxone and how it may have adversely impacted your health and safety. Next, you need to contact an experienced Suboxone law firm that can determine whether you are eligible to file a lawsuit and help you navigate the legal process.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a combination of two medications: buprenorphine and Naloxone. It is an oral medication commonly used to treat narcotic addiction and opioid dependence. Opioids are drugs that mimic the effects of substances found naturally occurring in specific varieties of the poppy plant. Opioids interact with the brain, binding to receptors in brain cells and blocking pain messages. Opioids also trigger feelings of euphoria, which is what makes them so addictive.

Suboxone works to help treat opioid dependency by binding to the same receptors in the brain as opioids. Buprenorphine is the primary opioid medication. Naloxone is a medication that blocks the effects of opioid medication, including the euphoric feeling and pain relief effects that can lead to opioid abuse. The buprenorphine tricks the brain into thinking it is being affected by a full dose of opioids. Naloxone blocks the activation of opioid receptors in the brain, reversing the euphoric effects brought on by buprenorphine and other opioid drugs. Suboxone can decrease opioid cravings in the brain, activating receptors without creating a “high.” The drug also blocks opioid receptors, so drugs like heroin, morphine, and oxycodone cannot produce a “high.”

The goal of using Suboxone is to help prevent opioid cravings and allow people with opioid addiction to slowly transition back to an addiction-free lifestyle.

The Problemwith Suboxone

Suboxone is administered in several ways, including buccal film, sublingual tablet, and sublingual film. Taking the drug means allowing the tablet or film to sit in a specific area of the mouth, either under the tongue or against the side of the cheek, and allowing the medication to dissolve. Patients are advised to avoid brushing their teeth after taking Suboxone for at least one hour. Unfortunately, information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows that drugs like Suboxone may contribute to significant oral health problems and tooth decay.

Some early research suggests that the buprenorphine in Suboxone lowers pH levels in the mouth. Taking the medication orally, allowing it to dissolve, and sitting in the mouth may change the pH environment of the mouth itself. The standard pH of the mouth should be between 6.2 and 7.6. The lower the number of the pH scale, the higher the acidity. Buprenorphine may have acidic qualities. Taking the medication for an extended period may lower the natural pH levels of the mouth, making the mouth more acidic, eroding and causing damage to tooth enamel.

Tooth decay and erosion may also be linked to an increase in the amount of harmful oral bacteria. Some research indicates that Suboxone use may lead to increased harmful levels of the Streptococcus mutans. This bacterium breaks down sugars in the mouth and produces lactic acid. Increasing the colonies of this bacteria in the mouth because of Suboxone use may result in tooth decay and demineralizing tooth enamel because of the heightened incidence of lactic acid.

Unfortunately, another side effect of Suboxone use is dry mouth. Reducing saliva flow in the mouth increases an individual’s chances of developing tooth sensitivity, demineralization, and oral infections. Saliva is crucial for moisturizing and cleaning the mouth. It also prevents infection by helping to control bacteria in the mouth. Persistent dry mouth can eventually lead to infections and tooth decay.

woman has a toothache after using suboxone

Oral Health SideEffectsof Using Suboxone

Oral health issues are the primary concern for individuals using Suboxone. The medication manufacturer did not warn doctors or the public that Suboxone could impact oral health or cause unwanted dental side effects until 2022. The FDA has issued a safety warning alerting patients and physicians that it has received numerous complaints about dental problems associated with buprenorphine and Suboxone.

Some of the most common complaints and dental-related issues stemming from the use of Suboxone tend to include:

  • Tooth decay
  • Cavities
  • Oral infections
  • Cracked or broken teeth
  • Demineralization or enamel loss
  • Periodontal disease
  • Oral infections
  • Tooth loss
  • Bone loss in the jaw

For many people, these problems have led to significant, painful, and expensive medical interventions. Those on Suboxone may have needed to undergo:

  • Root canal
  • Crown replacement
  • Fillings
  • Tooth extraction
  • Dental implants

One study published in the Journal of American Medical Association indicates that compared with other forms of the drug, taking Suboxone via sublingual film meant individuals were significantly more likely to develop dental issues, even if they previously had good dental hygiene and dental health.

How a Lawyer Can Help

You need to prove there is a link between your pronged use of Suboxone and your oral health problems. Gathering the evidence required to prove your issues are tied to Suboxone and not poor oral hygiene or other health problems can be challenging. The drug company is going to point the finger elsewhere because they don’t want to be responsible for handing out their profits to the people they’ve hurt. An attorney can tenaciously fight for you, gathering and preserving the evidence necessary to build a solid case.

At Law Experts LLP, we’ll carefully review your case and help you through the legal landscape. From start to finish, we’ll provide responsive feedback and effective legal representation. You don’t have to go head-to-head with a pharmaceutical company alone. Hand your case to the experienced legal team at Law Experts and get the advice and support you need during this challenging time.

Get in Touch with an ExperiencedSuboxoneLawyerToday for More Information

Our smile is how we express ourselves. If the drug Suboxone has negatively impacted your oral health, you may feel anxious or uncomfortable sharing your smile with the world. Oral health problems aren’t just painful and expensive; they can ruin a person’s self-esteem and change their life. Drug manufacturers did not warn patients or providers that taking the drug Suboxone could cause significant and detrimental oral health problems. You deserve justice and to hold careless pharmaceutical companies accountable for their actions.

Act today. Fill out this brief questionnaire to find out whether you can file a Suboxone lawsuit seeking compensation for your oral and dental injuries. At Law Experts, we are committed to helping people like you pursue the money they need to get their lives back on track again. Let us help you fight for justice.

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