The tentative March 2028 trial date is the first courtroom test for the federal Suboxone tooth-decay lawsuits, not a settlement or payment date. It creates a firm work schedule for evidence, expert fights, and selection of test cases. These lawsuits allege that Suboxone film caused severe dental harm.
The federal cases are grouped as MDL No. 3092, a multidistrict litigation that moves many similar cases through one judge for pretrial work, before Judge J. Philip Calabrese in the Northern District of Ohio.
Official resources:
- Read the official guidance from NIH — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
- Read the official guidance from FDA — Use this primary source to verify the official guidance.
Table of Contents
- Where the March 2028 date comes from
- How 50 cases narrow to four trials
- What plaintiffs allege about Suboxone film
- What the date means if you have tooth damage
Where the March 2028 date comes from
The court tentatively anticipates starting the first bellwether trial in March 2028. AboutLawsuits reports that preparation is governed by a March 2026 case-management order and bellwether protocol, described in its March 2026 trial-preparation report. A bellwether trial is a test trial.
The jury decides only the selected cases, but the result shows how evidence plays and shapes settlement talks. The date remains tentative. As TortAdvisor notes in its November 2026 update, no firm trial date is fixed and no settlement or verdict has resolved the MDL.
How 50 cases narrow to four trials
The court is working from a 50-case Core Discovery Pool. Lawyers & Settlements reports depositions run through January 15, 2027, followed by selection of 15 trial-pool cases on January 29, 2027, then narrowing to four bellwether trials, in its October 2026 litigation update. That sequence matters because each cut increases scrutiny.
📨 Get Free Mass Tort Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Medical records, dental history, prescribing records, and expert opinions get tested before a case reaches a jury. The pool is large and still growing. About 2,022 federal actions were pending on October 1, 2026, up 195 from September, while the November 2, 2026 report lists 2,016 pending actions.
What plaintiffs allege about Suboxone film
Plaintiffs say Suboxone film dissolves under the tongue or cheek to treat opioid addiction, is acidic, and damages enamel. Reported harm includes cavities, erosion, infections, broken teeth, and tooth loss. The U.S.
Food and Drug Administration warned on January 12, 2022 that buprenorphine medicines dissolved in the mouth can cause serious tooth decay, cavities, oral infections, and tooth loss, even without prior dental problems, as stated in its FDA drug-safety warning. The agency also required a label warning. A December 2022 JAMA research letter studied 21,404 sublingual buprenorphine/naloxone users. The authors found increased dental adverse outcomes compared with transdermal buprenorphine and oral naltrexone, according to the PMC-hosted JAMA letter.
What the date means if you have tooth damage
For potential claimants, March 2028 means waiting and preparation, not filing for a fixed payout. Bellwether verdicts would not decide other cases, but strong or weak results would pressure settlement talks.
Dental injury cases often turn on records. Keep documents that show what you took, when problems began, and what treatment cost. Save pharmacy records, dental bills, and dates of Suboxone film use before you seek legal advice.
- Pharmacy records showing Suboxone film prescriptions and dates
- Dental records, X-rays, extraction notes, and bills
- Names and dates of dentists, clinics, and oral surgeons
- Photos of damage, if available, with dates
You Might Also Like
- Uber Sexual Assault Lawsuit: Where the MDL Stands in 2026
- Gabapentin Dementia Lawsuit: What Memory Loss Claims Must Show
- Suboxone Lawsuit Trial Date: What Happens When a Case Moves to Trial?