Tooth loss
Meaning of tooth loss: For the purposes of this Statement of Principles, tooth loss: (a) means partial or complete permanent loss of a tooth (consisting of the enamel and dentine) of the natural secondary dentition, with or without retained dental root; and (b) includes tooth loss due to surgical extraction; and (c) excludes superficial tooth wear confined to the enamel.
Reasonable Hypothesis (RH) — Statement of Principles No. 29 of 2025
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 tooth loss or death from tooth loss with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having dental caries in the affected tooth at the time of clinical onset;
- (2)having periodontitis in the periodontium supporting the affected tooth at the time of clinical onset;
- (3)having periodontal abscess of the affected tooth at the time of clinical onset;
- (4)having dental pulp and apical disease of the affected tooth at the time of clinical onset;
- (5)having a fracture of the affected tooth where the fractures involves the dentine before clinical onset;
- (6)having luxation of the affected tooth (partial or complete displacement of the tooth from its alveolar socket) at the time of clinical onset;
- (7)having traumatic avulsion of the affected tooth (total displacement of the tooth out of its alveolar socket) at the time of clinical onset;
- (8)having a fracture of the alveolar bone supporting the affected tooth before clinical onset;
- (9)undergoing a course of radiotherapy for head or neck cancer, where the affected tooth was in the field of radiation, within the 4 years before clinical onset;
Note: The radiotherapy for head or neck cancer can result in osteonecrosis of the bone which leads to tooth displacement and loss.
- (10)having pericoronitis of the affected tooth at the time of the dental decision to extract the partially erupted tooth;
Note: Pericoronitis causes inflammation of the gingiva surrounding a partially erupted tooth, especially the third molar or wisdom tooth, and is related to the accumulation of food particles and micro-organisms under the gum flap.
- (11)taking ribavirin at the time of clinical onset;
- (12)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for tooth loss before clinical worsening;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(12) 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. 30 of 2025
12 factors
At least one of the following factors must exist before it can be said that, on the balance of probabilities, tooth loss or death from tooth loss is connected with the circumstances of a person's relevant service:
- (1)having dental caries in the affected tooth at the time of clinical onset;
- (2)having periodontitis in the periodontium supporting the affected tooth at the time of clinical onset;
- (3)having periodontal abscess of the affected tooth at the time of clinical onset;
- (4)having dental pulp and apical disease of the affected tooth at the time of clinical onset;
- (5)having a fracture of the affected tooth where the fractures involves the dentine before clinical onset;
- (6)having luxation of the affected tooth (partial or complete displacement of the tooth from its alveolar socket) at the time of clinical onset;
- (7)having traumatic avulsion of the affected tooth (total displacement of the tooth out of its alveolar socket) at the time of clinical onset;
- (8)having a fracture of the alveolar bone supporting the affected tooth before clinical onset;
- (9)undergoing a course of radiotherapy for head or neck cancer, where the affected tooth was in the field of radiation, within the 4 years before clinical onset;
Note: The radiotherapy for head or neck cancer can result in osteonecrosis of the bone which leads to tooth displacement and loss.
- (10)having pericoronitis of the affected tooth at the time of the dental decision to extract the partially erupted tooth;
Note: Pericoronitis causes inflammation of the gingiva surrounding a partially erupted tooth, especially the third molar or wisdom tooth, and is related to the accumulation of food particles and micro-organisms under the gum flap.
- (11)taking ribavirin at the time of clinical onset;
- (12)inability to obtain appropriate clinical management for tooth loss before clinical worsening;
Aggravation-only factors: the factors in subsection 9(12) 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.
