At least 20 lawsuits have been filed by people who were seriously injured when an Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA) destroyed their teeth.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting AGGA dental device induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with tooth damage, face disfigurement, or other injuries from an Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA), you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: Feds Launch Criminal Investigation Into AGGA Dental Device
In April 2023, federal prosecutors opened a criminal investigation against the manufacturer and dentist behind the Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA)dental device.
The investigation was revealed in a court motion that was filed on April 5 by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Tennessee, which said they are “conducting a criminal investigation … for the purpose of potentially bringing criminal charges against Defendants.”
FDA Evaluates Safety Concerns With Dental Devices
In March 2023, the FDA issued a Safety Communication to warn people about safety concerns with certain dental devices, including fixed (non-removable) palate expanders, such as:
- Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA) and Fixed Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (FAGGA),
- Anterior Remodeling Appliance (ARA) and Fixed Anterior Remodeling Appliance (FARA),
- Osseo-Restoration Appliance (ORA) and Fixed Osseo-Restoration Appliance (FORA), and
- Any other similar device types
The FDA is aware that these devices are being used to treat conditions that have not been cleared or approved by the FDA. There are also reports of serious complications, especially in adults. According to the FDA:
“An adult’s upper jaw bones are fused, and when a fixed palatal expansion device applies force, the palate is resistant to expansion. If forces are applied incorrectly to the teeth, serious complications can occur including chronic pain, tooth dislocation, flared teeth, uneven bite, difficulty eating, damaged gums, exposed roots, bone erosion, and tooth loss.”
What is the AGGA Dental Device?
The Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA) is a dental device that was originally designed to expand the roof of the mouth of children with very serious dental, facial, and airway defects.
How Does It Work?
The AGGA device is also called a fixed palate expander. It is being advertised to remodel the jaw or treat conditions like obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) of the jaw.
The device consists of wires and a small plastic oval that pushes on the upper palate behind the front teeth. Over time, as the child’s skull and jaw bones grow, the device helps push the teeth into a better position. This may avoid the need for jaw surgery.
What is the Problem?
Dozens of lawsuits have been filed by adults who claim that the AGGA dental device destroyed their teeth, permanently damaged their jaws, or caused facial disfigurement and other severe complications. In lawsuits, some people who lost their teeth were unable to get dental implants because they no longer have enough healthy bone.
What Do Lawsuits Allege?
These lawsuits allege that the AGGA device is not appropriate or safe for adults, whose bones have stopped growing. Instead of correcting dental problems, lawsuits claim that the AGGA device actually pushes the upper teeth out of their housings, resulting in painful tooth injuries.
Who Is Being Sued?
The lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of the AGGA device and doctors who advertised it, including Steve Galella, D.D.S, OtrhoMatrix Corp, and John’s Dental Laboratory, Inc.
Dental Problems Linked to AGGA Device
- Chronic pain
- Tooth discoloration
- Flared teeth
- Uneven bite
- Difficulty seating or speaking
- Damaged gums
- Exposed roots
- Bone erosion
- Tooth damage
- Tooth loss
- Broken or ruined teeth
- Loosening of teeth
- Nerve damage
- Facial disfigurement
- Need for orthodontic surgery
- And more
AGGA Device vs. Controlled Arch Braces
Controlled Arch Braces are wire arches that are placed behind the front teeth to provide a widening force for the upper jaw. The AGGA device is another dental device that mostly pushes the teeth forward.
Woman Files $10 Million Lawsuit After AGGA Device Destroys Her Teeth
In October 2020, a $10 million lawsuit was filed by Boja K., a professional clarinetist who claims that a dentist in Manhattan ruined her teeth by placing an AGGA device and controlled arch braces.
The AGGA device was supposed to stimulate new bone growth and help move her teeth and jaw forward. Instead, the device caused her to lose four teeth, and she expects to lose at least 12 more teeth.
Photos provided by her attorneys show her teeth bulging out of her mouth, warping her smile and disfiguring her face. She suffers pain when chewing and sometimes struggles to speak clearly. Now, her only option is to undergo extensive jaw surgeries to fix the problems.
She accuses her dentists of failing to warn her about the actual risks of the AGGA device, and failing to remove it quickly when damage should have been obvious to a dental professional.
She claims she has suffered “significant and permanent damage to her teeth and face, economic loss, disfigurement, embarrassment, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical and mental pain and suffering.”
The defendants include Martha Cortes, D.D.S., Steve Galella, D.D.S., Orthomatrix Corp Inc., Facial Beauty Institute, and John’s Dental Laboratory Inc.
Her Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA) Lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York — Case Number 1:20-cv-08390-RA.
Do I have an Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA) Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting AGGA dental device induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with tooth damage, face disfigurement, or other injuries from an Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA), you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Medical Device Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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