The lawsuit claims the AGGA device damaged the teeth, causing disfiguring injuries.

The Anterior Growth Guidance Appliance (AGGA) is defectively designed and poses an undue risk, alleging in a recently filed product liability lawsuit. The device caused serious dental damage to a California man, resulting in migraines, jaw problems, and other permanent injuries.

The lawsuit (PDF) was filed by Joseph Dimola on July 10 in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, seeking damages from the designers of the AGGA device, Dr. Steve Galella and Orthomatrix Corp., Inc., doing business as Facial Beauty Institute, and Orthologic, as well as John’s Dental Laboratory, Inc., alleging that the defendants failed to provide adequate warnings or training to dentists promoting the AGGA device to their patients.

The AGGA dental device involves a metal wire insert that is placed between the teeth, which is supposed to help reshape or widen an adult’s jaw without the need for surgery. However, there are a growing number of reports of problems where the AGGA has actually pushed the upper teeth out of their housings, resulting in tooth loss, gum damage, facial disfigurement, nerve problems, and other dental complications, often requiring corrective surgery.

Over the past year, a number of similar AGGA lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers and makers of dental devices. These lawsuits have attracted significant media, federal regulators, and law enforcement attention because of the allegations.