Dental pulp and periapical disease — DVA SoP factors

Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 99 of 2021

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 pulp and periapical disease or death from dental pulp and periapical disease with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:

1. (1)
   having dental caries involving the affected tooth before the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease;
2. (2)
   having periodontitis involving the periodontium supporting the affected tooth at the time of the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease;
3. (3)
   having trauma involving the affected tooth within the 5 years before the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease;

   Note: trauma involving the affected tooth is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

4. (4)
   undergoing surgery involving the affected tooth within the 1 year before the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease;

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

5. (5)
   undergoing a non-invasive dental or orthodontic procedure involving the affected tooth or the periodontium supporting the affected tooth, within the 6 months before the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease;

   Note: non-invasive dental or orthodontic procedure is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

6. (6)
   having smoked tobacco products: (a) in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease; and (b) commencing at least 5 years before the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease; and if smoking has ceased before the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease, then that onset occurred within 10 years of cessation;

   Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

7. (7)
   having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease;
8. (8)
   having scleroderma or Sjögren syndrome at the time of the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease;
9. (9)
   having osteonecrosis of the jaw involving the affected tooth at the time of the clinical onset of dental pulp and periapical disease;

   Note: Examples of causes of osteonecrosis of the jaw include sickle-cell disorder and medication-related osteonecrosis.

10. (10)
    having dental caries involving the affected tooth before the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease;
11. (11)
    having periodontitis involving the periodontium supporting the affected tooth at the time of the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease;
12. (12)
    having trauma involving the affected tooth within the 5 years before the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease;

    Note: trauma involving the affected tooth is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

13. (13)
    undergoing surgery involving the affected tooth within the 1 year before the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease;

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

14. (14)
    undergoing a non-invasive dental or orthodontic procedure involving the affected tooth or the periodontium supporting the affected tooth, within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease;

    Note: non-invasive dental or orthodontic procedure is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

15. (15)
    having smoked tobacco products: (a) in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease; and (b) commencing at least 5 years before the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease; and if smoking has ceased before the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease, then that worsening occurred within 10 years of cessation;

    Note: one pack-year is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

16. (16)
    having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease;
17. (17)
    having scleroderma or Sjögren syndrome at the time of the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease;
18. (18)
    having osteonecrosis of the jaw involving the affected tooth at the time of the clinical worsening of dental pulp and periapical disease;

    Note: Examples of causes of osteonecrosis of the jaw include sickle-cell disorder and medication-related osteonecrosis.

19. (19)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for dental pulp and periapical disease;

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.