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Statement of Principles

Dental malocclusion — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles for Dental malocclusion. DVA can only accept a claim for Dental malocclusion if at least one of these factors is met and connected to your service. Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) applies to operational service; Balance of Probabilities (BoP) applies to peacetime service.

Source: Repatriation Medical Authority Statements of Principles as held by the Veterans Health Centre. SoPs are amended and replaced regularly; always confirm the current instrument at rma.gov.au before relying on it.

Dental malocclusion

RH No. 19 of 2019 · BoP No. 20 of 201938 factors

Meaning of dental malocclusion: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, dental malocclusion: (a) means acquired malposition of maxillary or mandibular teeth resulting in abnormal contact; and (b) includes acquired dental hyperocclusion.

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 19 of 2019

At least one of the following factors must as a minimum exist before it can be said that a reasonable hypothesis has been raised connecting dental malocclusion or death from dental malocclusion with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having an injury resulting in distortion of the temporomandibular joint or fracture of the maxilla or mandible before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;
  2. (2)
    having surgery involving the temporomandibular joint, maxilla or mandible before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;
  3. (3)
    having loss of one or more teeth for at least the two years before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;
  4. (4)
    having a maxillofacial disease at the time of the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: maxillofacial disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having a peripheral odontogenic fibroma or a peripheral ossifying fibroma adjacent to the affected tooth or teeth, at the time of the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: peripheral odontogenic fibroma and peripheral ossifying fibroma are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    using a mandibular repositioning appliance for treatment of snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea for at least five hours per night, on at least five days per week, for at least the four months before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: mandibular repositioning appliance is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    having an ill-fitting dental restoration or orthodontic device applied to the affected tooth or teeth at the time of the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: Examples of dental restorations and orthodontic devices include, but are not limited to, dental fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, retainers and braces.

  8. (8)
    having advanced periodontitis involving the affected tooth or teeth at the time of the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;
  9. (9)
    having macroglossia for at least the two years before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: macroglossia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    having an injury resulting in distortion of the temporomandibular joint or fracture of the maxilla or mandible before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;
  11. (11)
    having surgery involving the temporomandibular joint, maxilla or mandible before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;
  12. (12)
    having loss of one or more teeth for at least the two years before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;
  13. (13)
    having a maxillofacial disease at the time of the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: maxillofacial disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  14. (14)
    having a peripheral odontogenic fibroma or a peripheral ossifying fibroma adjacent to the affected tooth or teeth, at the time of the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: peripheral odontogenic fibroma and peripheral ossifying fibroma are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  15. (15)
    using a mandibular repositioning appliance for treatment of snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea for at least five hours per night, on at least five days per week, for at least the four months before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: mandibular repositioning appliance is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  16. (16)
    having an ill-fitting dental restoration or orthodontic device applied to the affected tooth or teeth at the time of the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: Examples of dental restorations and orthodontic devices include, but are not limited to, dental fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, retainers and braces.

  17. (17)
    having advanced periodontitis involving the affected tooth or teeth at the time of the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;
  18. (18)
    having macroglossia for at least the two years before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: macroglossia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  19. (19)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for dental malocclusion;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(10) to 9(19) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 20 of 2019

19 factors

At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, dental malocclusion or death from dental malocclusion is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

  1. (1)
    having an injury resulting in distortion of the temporomandibular joint or fracture of the maxilla or mandible before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;
  2. (2)
    having surgery involving the temporomandibular joint, maxilla or mandible before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;
  3. (3)
    having loss of one or more teeth for at least the two years before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;
  4. (4)
    having a maxillofacial disease at the time of the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: maxillofacial disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having a peripheral odontogenic fibroma or a peripheral ossifying fibroma adjacent to the affected tooth or teeth, at the time of the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: peripheral odontogenic fibroma and peripheral ossifying fibroma are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  6. (6)
    using a mandibular repositioning appliance for treatment of snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea for at least five hours per night, on at least five days per week, for at least the four months before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: mandibular repositioning appliance is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  7. (7)
    having an ill-fitting dental restoration or orthodontic device applied to the affected tooth or teeth at the time of the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: Examples of dental restorations and orthodontic devices include, but are not limited to, dental fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, retainers and braces.

  8. (8)
    having advanced periodontitis involving the affected tooth or teeth at the time of the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;
  9. (9)
    having macroglossia for at least the two years before the clinical onset of dental malocclusion;

    Note: macroglossia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  10. (10)
    having an injury resulting in distortion of the temporomandibular joint or fracture of the maxilla or mandible before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;
  11. (11)
    having surgery involving the temporomandibular joint, maxilla or mandible before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;
  12. (12)
    having loss of one or more teeth for at least the two years before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;
  13. (13)
    having a maxillofacial disease at the time of the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: maxillofacial disease is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  14. (14)
    having a peripheral odontogenic fibroma or a peripheral ossifying fibroma adjacent to the affected tooth or teeth, at the time of the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: peripheral odontogenic fibroma and peripheral ossifying fibroma are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  15. (15)
    using a mandibular repositioning appliance for treatment of snoring or obstructive sleep apnoea for at least five hours per night, on at least five days per week, for at least the four months before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: mandibular repositioning appliance is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  16. (16)
    having an ill-fitting dental restoration or orthodontic device applied to the affected tooth or teeth at the time of the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: Examples of dental restorations and orthodontic devices include, but are not limited to, dental fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, retainers and braces.

  17. (17)
    having advanced periodontitis involving the affected tooth or teeth at the time of the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;
  18. (18)
    having macroglossia for at least the two years before the clinical worsening of dental malocclusion;

    Note: macroglossia is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  19. (19)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for dental malocclusion;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(10) to 9(19) apply only to material contribution to, or aggravation of, the condition where it was suffered or contracted before or during (but did not arise out of) the person’s relevant service.

A VHC Diagnostic Assessment addresses each of these factors one by one against your service record and clinical history. See how a VHC DVA claim works, see all fees ($600 + GST per stage) or book an appointment.

Accepted — what is it worth?

A Statement of Principles decides one thing only: whether DVA accepts liability for dental malocclusion. It says nothing about how much you are paid. Compensation is worked out separately, from impairment points under the GARP — so a condition can be accepted and still rate few points, or rate more than you expect once it is combined with everything else on your file.

Part of DVA Claims — Teeth & jaw — every Statement of Principles covering the teeth and jaw.

Others in this area:

Dr Thomas Perkins, Veterans Health Centre

Reviewed by Dr Thomas Perkins

Founding doctor, Veterans Health Centre · former RAAF aviation medical officer · 13 years working exclusively with ADF members and veterans. Full profile →