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Statement of Principles

Gingivitis — DVA SoP factors

Every factor in the Repatriation Medical Authority Statement of Principles for Gingivitis. DVA can only accept a claim for Gingivitis 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.

Gingivitis

BoP No. 18 of 202235 factors

Meaning of gingivitis: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, gingivitis: (a) means an acute or chronic inflammation of the gums, limited to the mucosal epithelial tissue overlying the alveolar ridge and surrounding the necks of erupted teeth; and (b) includes: (i) acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis; (ii) desquamative gingivitis; (iii) gingival abscess; (iv) linear gingival erythema; (v) peri-implant mucositis; and (vi) plasma cell gingivitis; and (c) excludes: (i) destructive gingival inflammation extending beyond the gums into the underlying supporting structures of the teeth; (ii) gingival hyperplasia and overgrowth; Compilation No. 1 Compilation date: 21/11/2022 Authorised Version F2022C01121 registered 21/11/2022 (iii) gingival recession; and (iv) oral aphthae. (3) While gingivitis attracts ICD-10-AM code A69.1, K05.0 or K05.1, in applying this Statement of Principles the meaning of gingivitis is that given in subsection (2). (4) For subsection (3), a reference to an ICD-10-AM code is a reference to the code assigned to a particular kind of injury or disease in The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modificatio

Balance of Probabilities (BoP) — Statement of Principles No. 18 of 2022

35 factors

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

  1. (1)
    being prevented from cleaning the teeth, including toothbrushing and interdental cleansing, for a continuous period of at least 14 days, within the 30 days before the clinical onset of gingivitis;
  2. (2)
    having a foreign body embedded in the affected region of the gums at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis;

    Note: Examples of a foreign body embedded in the gums include a fixed orthodontic appliance, an osseointegrated implant or dental prosthesis, particulate materials derived from dental procedures and shrapnel.

  3. (3)
    having trauma to the affected region of the gums within the 2 weeks before the clinical onset of gingivitis; Compilation No. 1 Compilation date: 21/11/2022 Authorised Version F2022C01121 registered 21/11/2022;

    Note: trauma to the affected region of the gums is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  4. (4)
    having direct exposure of the affected area to an irritant substance within the 3 days before the clinical onset of gingivitis;

    Note: irritant substance is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  5. (5)
    having direct exposure of the affected area to an allergen within the 3 days before the clinical onset of gingivitis;

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

  6. (6)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis;
  7. (7)
    having chronic renal failure at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis;

    Note: chronic renal failure is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  8. (8)
    having leukaemia or lymphoma at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis;
  9. (9)
    taking a drug that causes neutropenia or agranulocytosis, at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis;

    Note: Examples of drugs that cause neutropenia or agranulocytosis include clozapine, sulfasalazine, ticlopidine and thioamides such as methimazole, carbimazole and propylthiouracil.

  10. (10)
    having severe vitamin C deficiency at the time the of clinical onset of gingivitis;

    Note: severe vitamin C deficiency is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  11. (11)
    having stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant before the clinical onset of gingivitis;
  12. (12)
    being pregnant at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis;
  13. (13)
    using the combined oral contraceptive pill as specified for a continuous period of at least the 4 weeks before the clinical onset of gingivitis;

    Note: combined oral contraceptive pill as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  14. (14)
    having an autoimmune or mucocutaneous disease from the specified list of autoimmune or mucocutaneous diseases at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis;

    Note: specified list of autoimmune or mucocutaneous diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  15. (15)
    having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis; Compilation No. 1 Compilation date: 21/11/2022 Authorised Version F2022C01121 registered 21/11/2022;
  16. (16)
    having infection involving the affected region of the gums at the time of the clinical onset of gingivitis;

    Note: Examples of infections that may involve the gums include tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, syphilis, chickenpox, candidiasis, histoplasmosis, herpes simplex and hand, foot and mouth disease.

  17. (17)
    for acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis only: (a) having severe malnutrition at the time of the clinical onset of acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis; or (b) having smoked tobacco products: (i) in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical onset of acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis; and (ii) if smoking has ceased before the clinical onset of acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis, then that onset occurred within 1 month of cessation;

    Note: acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis and one pack-year are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  18. (18)
    being prevented from cleaning the teeth, including toothbrushing and interdental cleansing, for a continuous period of at least 14 days, within the 30 days before the clinical worsening of gingivitis;
  19. (19)
    having a foreign body embedded in the affected region of the gums at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

    Note: Examples of a foreign body embedded in the gums include a fixed orthodontic appliance, an osseointegrated implant or dental prosthesis, particulate materials derived from dental procedures and shrapnel.

  20. (20)
    having trauma to the affected region of the gums within the 2 weeks before the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

    Note: trauma to the affected region of the gums is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  21. (21)
    having direct exposure of the affected area to an irritant substance within the 3 days before the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

    Note: irritant substance is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  22. (22)
    having direct exposure of the affected area to an allergen within the 3 days before the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

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

  23. (23)
    having infection with human immunodeficiency virus at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;
  24. (24)
    having chronic renal failure at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis; Compilation No. 1 Compilation date: 21/11/2022 Authorised Version F2022C01121 registered 21/11/2022;

    Note: chronic renal failure is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  25. (25)
    having leukaemia or lymphoma at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;
  26. (26)
    taking a drug that causes neutropenia or agranulocytosis, at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

    Note: Examples of drugs that cause neutropenia or agranulocytosis include clozapine, sulfasalazine, ticlopidine and thioamides such as methimazole, carbimazole and propylthiouracil.

  27. (27)
    having severe vitamin C deficiency at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

    Note: severe vitamin C deficiency is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  28. (28)
    having stem cell transplant or bone marrow transplant before the clinical worsening of gingivitis;
  29. (29)
    being pregnant at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;
  30. (30)
    using the combined oral contraceptive pill as specified for a continuous period of at least the 4 weeks before the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

    Note: combined oral contraceptive pill as specified is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  31. (31)
    having an autoimmune or mucocutaneous disease from the specified list of autoimmune or mucocutaneous diseases at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

    Note: specified list of autoimmune or mucocutaneous diseases is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  32. (32)
    having diabetes mellitus at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;
  33. (33)
    having infection involving the affected region of the gums at the time of the clinical worsening of gingivitis;

    Note: Examples of infections that may involve the gums include tuberculosis, gonorrhoea, syphilis, chickenpox, candidiasis, histoplasmosis, herpes simplex and hand, foot and mouth disease.

  34. (34)
    for acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis only: (a) having severe malnutrition at the time of the clinical worsening of acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis; or (b) having smoked tobacco products: (i) in an amount of at least 5 pack-years before the clinical worsening of acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis; and Compilation No. 1 Compilation date: 21/11/2022 Authorised Version F2022C01121 registered 21/11/2022 (ii) if smoking has ceased before the clinical worsening of acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis, then that worsening occurred within 1 month of cessation;

    Note: acute necrotising ulcerative gingivitis and one pack-year are defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.

  35. (35)
    inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for gingivitis;

Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(18) to 9(35) 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 gingivitis. 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.

Presumptive liability · from 1 July 2026

Gingivitis may be accepted without proving the link to service

Gingivitis is listed in Part 3 as a sequela attributable to any defence service, provided a specified condition has already been accepted:

  • diabetes mellitus is an accepted condition that is present at the time of onset.

A diagnosis is still required, and the presumption may not apply where there is clear evidence of a cause other than service. "Onset" means when an injury was sustained, or when all the signs and symptoms of a disease were first present — not the date of diagnosis. Applies to claims made on or after 1 July 2026.

How presumptive liability works →

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 →