This study aimed to examine how oral health policies and clinical guidelines evolved in response to the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across various countries and regions worldwide. Data were compiled from nine countries—Canada, China (including Hong Kong), Egypt, India, Japan, New Zealand, Nigeria, Switzerland, and Thailand—drawing primarily on information issued by national or regional health authorities and dental councils or associations. Modifications to oral health guidance corresponded to the intensity of the pandemic, ranging from the suspension of non-urgent dental services during peak transmission periods to the gradual reintroduction of elective and non-essential procedures once the situation improved. Key mitigation measures included stringent infection control protocols (such as the use of hand sanitizers, facemasks, and physical distancing), strategies to minimize aerosol generation in dental settings, and approaches to enhance air quality in treatment rooms by limiting air-conditioner use and improving ventilation. The pandemic has profoundly influenced dental practice, prompting practitioners to adjust to new standards of care. However, the medium- and long-term implications of COVID-19 for dentistry remain to be clarified.
