Texas Belbuca Tooth Decay Lawyer

Belbuca is an anti-opioid medication that dissolves in the mouth, but lawsuits claim that it can also lead to tooth decay, cavities, tooth loss, and other severe dental problems.

Need a Texas Belbuca Tooth Decay Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you were diagnosed with tooth decay after using Belbuca, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

What is Belbuca?

Belbuca® (buprenorphine) is a long-acting opioid medication that is used to manage severe chronic pain. Belbuca is a small, thin, square strip of film that patients stick to the inner cheek until it dissolves.

Belbuca was approved by the FDA in October 2015. Since then, it has been manufactured or sold by Endo Pharmaceuticals, BioDelivery Sciences International, and Collegium Pharmaceutical Inc.

Severe Dental Problems Linked to Belbuca

Belbuca contains buprenorphine, an ingredient that is acidic when dissolved in the mouth. Users also commonly suffer from dry mouth problems when they use Belbuca, which further worsens the acidity. Over time, patients on long-term treatment with Belbuca are at risk of developing severe dental problems as a result of highly acidic conditions in the mouth.

What is the Risk?

Some of the potential side effects include:

• Tooth decay
• Rotting teeth
• Cavities
• Tooth loss
• Chipped teeth
• Cracked or broken teeth
• Oral infectons or dental abscesses
• Severe pain
• Teeth are visibly stained, pitted, cracked, or damaged
• Gum disease
• Oral surgery
• Needing to have teeth pulled due to damage

FDA Warning for Buprenorphine and Tooth Decay

In January 2022, the FDA ordered drug-makers to add warnings about tooth decay and other dental problems to the Prescribing Information for Belbuca, as well as the easy-to-read Medication Guide that doctors commonly hand out to patients when they are starting treatment.

These warnings were also added to the label for Suboxone, Zubsolv, and other buprenorphine-containing medications that are dissolved in the mouth, under the tongue, or inside the inner cheek.

According to the FDA Safety Communication for buprenorphine:

“The dental problems, including tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and loss of teeth, can be serious and have been reported even in patients with no history of dental issues.”

Study Finds 2X Increased Risk of Tooth Decay from Buprenophine

Buprenorphine medications that dissolve in the mouth were linked to a doubled risk of dental problems, according to a major study published in JAMA in December 2022.

The researchers based their conclusions on data from over 21,000 people who used buprenorphine medications. Of these patients, approximately 21.6 people per 1,000 patients developed dental problems.

Patients who used sublingual (under-the-tongue) buprenorphine drugs, such as Belbuca or Suboxone, were twice as likely to develop cavities, tooth loss, or require oral surgery.

The authors of the study warned:

“Sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone is acidic in nature. Patients are instructed to hold the tablet under the tongue for 5 to 10 minutes to maximize absorption. Thus, prolonged acidic exposure of the drug in the mouth might lead to tooth damage.”

Can I File a Lawsuit?

Lawsuits are being filed by people who developed tooth decay after using buprenorphine medicines that dissolve in the mouth. These lawsuits claim that pharmaceutical companies knew about the risk of tooth decay long before the FDA warnings, but failed to warn patients.

Is There A Class Action Lawsuit for Belbuca?

No. There is not a class action lawsuit for Belbuca and tooth decay. Instead, law firms are filing individual lawsuits. These lawsuits are filed by plaintiffs who are seeking a settlement or financial compensation for their pain and suffering, medical expenses, long-term injuries, and more.

Need a Belbuca Tooth Decay Lawyer in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years of experience, participation in over 600 jury trials, and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our law firm for a free case review.