Dental Overview
The major structures covered in this section include the teeth, the upper (maxilla) and lower (mandible) jawbones, and the roof of the mouth (hard and soft palate).
The teeth are an essential component of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. There are 32 permanent teeth, 16 in the upper and 16 in the lower jaw. The different types of teeth are the incisors, canines (cuspids), premolars (bicuspids), and molars. They begin the action of digestion by performing mastication. Thorough mastication must take place before the remaining digestive system components can perform their part in the digestive process.
The maxilla pairs with other bones and several processes to form the skeletal base of most of the upper face, roof of the mouth, sides of the nasal cavity, and floor of the orbit. The maxilla holds and supports the upper teeth, which is the basis for calling the maxilla the upper jaw.
The mandible is the horseshoe-shaped bone that forms the lower jaw. It is the largest and strongest facial bone. It joins with the temporal bone to form the temporomandibular joint. This union allows it to move making it the only movable skull bone. It holds and supports the lower teeth and consists of five major areas, the condylar process the coronoid process, the ramus, the angle and the body.
The roof of the mouth consists of the hard palate located at the front and the soft palate located at the back. The hard palate is made up of bones covered with mucous membrane. It separates the nasal cavity from the mouth. The soft palate consists of muscle and membrane. It partially separates the mouth and the pharynx.
General Considerations
- Bruxism
(excessive grinding of the teeth and/or excessive clenching of the jaw) cannot be evaluated as a stand-alone service-connected disability. However, as the condition may be a symptom of an anxiety disorder, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, or some other disability, it may be considered on a secondary basis as a symptom of an SC disability for rating purposes.
Special Considerations
Under 38 CFR §4.150, schedule of ratings-dental and oral conditions:
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For VA compensation purposes, diagnostic imaging studies include, but are not limited to, conventional radiography (X-ray), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), radionuclide bone scanning, or ultrasonography.
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Separately evaluate loss of vocal articulation, loss of smell, loss of taste, neurological impairment, respiratory dysfunction, and other impairments under the appropriate diagnostic code and combine under §4.25 for each separately rated condition.
Dental & Oral Conditions
| Diagnostic Code | Name | DBQ |
|---|---|---|
| 9900 | Maxilla or mandible, chronic osteomyelitis, osteonecrosis or osteoradionecrosis of | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9901 | Mandible, loss of, complete, between angles | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9902 | Mandible, loss of, including ramus, unilaterally or bilaterally | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9903 | Mandible, nonunion of, confirmed by diagnostic imaging studies | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9904 | Mandible, malunion of | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9905 | Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) | Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Conditions |
| 9908 | Condyloid process, loss of, one or both sides | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9909 | Coronoid process, loss of | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9911 | Hard palate, loss of | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9913 | Teeth loss of substance of body of maxilla or mandible without loss of continuity | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9914 | Maxilla, loss of more than half | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9915 | Maxilla, loss of half or less | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9916 | Maxilla, malunion or nonunion of | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9917 | Neoplasm, hard or soft tissue, benign | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
| 9918 | Neoplasm, hard or soft tissue, malignant | Oral and Dental Conditions including mouth, lips and tongue (other than temporomandibular disorder conditions) |
Analogous
| Diagnostic Code |
|---|
| There are no common analogous codes for dental and oral conditions. However, there may be a situation in which an analogous code is appropriate. |
Historical
The rating schedule for dental and oral conditions was updated on September 10, 2017. To view the historical rating schedule, please click the link below
- Historical 4.150
- Historical rating criteria can also be found in the CPKM: https://vaww.vrm.km.va.gov/system/templates/selfservice/va_kanew/help/agent/locale/en-US/portal/554400000001034/content/554400000019133/01)%20%20%C2%A74.150%20%20Schedule%20of%20ratings%E2%80%94dental%20and%20oral%20conditions