Periodontal abscess
Meaning of periodontal abscess: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, periodontal abscess: (a) means a localised collection of pus within the periodontal tissue, adjacent to a periodontal pocket, that is associated with destruction of the bony and ligamentous tissues supporting the teeth; and (b) excludes: (i) combined periodontic-endodontic lesions; (ii) gingival abscess; (iii) periapical abscess; (iv) periapical periodontitis; and (v) pericoronal abscess.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 25 of 2022
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 periodontal abscess or death from periodontal abscess with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having periodontitis at the affected site within the 6 months before the clinical onset of periodontal abscess;
- (2)having a foreign body embedded in the affected region of the periodontium at the time of the clinical onset of periodontal abscess;
Note: Examples of foreign bodies that can be embedded in the periodontium include finger nails, corn husks, dental floss, shrapnel and materials derived from dental procedures such as calculus fragments, cement remnants and orthodontic separators.
- (3)having trauma to the affected region of the periodontium within the 4 weeks before the clinical onset of periodontal abscess;
Note: trauma to the affected region of the periodontium is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)having surgery to the affected region of the periodontium within the 4 weeks before the clinical onset of periodontal abscess;
- (5)having periodontitis at the affected site within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of periodontal abscess;
- (6)having a foreign body embedded in the affected region of the periodontium at the time of the clinical worsening of periodontal abscess;
Note: Examples of foreign bodies that can be embedded in the periodontium include finger nails, corn husks, dental floss, shrapnel and materials derived from dental procedures such as calculus fragments, cement remnants and orthodontic separators.
- (7)having trauma to the affected region of the periodontium within the 4 weeks before the clinical worsening of periodontal abscess;
Note: trauma to the affected region of the periodontium is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (8)having surgery to the affected region of the periodontium within the 4 weeks before the clinical worsening of periodontal abscess;
- (9)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for periodontal abscess;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(5) to 9(9) 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. 26 of 2022
9 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, periodontal abscess or death from periodontal abscess is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having periodontitis at the affected site within the 6 months before the clinical onset of periodontal abscess;
- (2)having a foreign body embedded in the affected region of the periodontium at the time of the clinical onset of periodontal abscess;
Note: Examples of foreign bodies that can be embedded in the periodontium include finger nails, corn husks, dental floss, shrapnel and materials derived from dental procedures such as calculus fragments, cement remnants and orthodontic separators.
- (3)having trauma to the affected region of the periodontium within the 4 weeks before the clinical onset of periodontal abscess;
Note: trauma to the affected region of the periodontium is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (4)having surgery to the affected region of the periodontium within the 4 weeks before the clinical onset of periodontal abscess;
- (5)having periodontitis at the affected site within the 6 months before the clinical worsening of periodontal abscess;
- (6)having a foreign body embedded in the affected region of the periodontium at the time of the clinical worsening of periodontal abscess;
Note: Examples of foreign bodies that can be embedded in the periodontium include finger nails, corn husks, dental floss, shrapnel and materials derived from dental procedures such as calculus fragments, cement remnants and orthodontic separators.
- (7)having trauma to the affected region of the periodontium within the 4 weeks before the clinical worsening of periodontal abscess;
Note: trauma to the affected region of the periodontium is defined in the Schedule 1 - Dictionary.
- (8)having surgery to the affected region of the periodontium within the 4 weeks before the clinical worsening of periodontal abscess;
- (9)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for periodontal abscess;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsections 9(5) to 9(9) 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.








