This systematic review examined existing guidance from evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs), scientific statements (SS), and expert consensus concerning oral complication management in ICU patients. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Ovid/Cochrane, and LILACS were systematically searched using the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) CPG identification filters. Both primary sources and cited references were considered. Quality appraisal was conducted with the AGREE-II tool for CPGs and SS (ideal scenario), while the AGREE-REX instrument assessed the recommendations in both ideal and local contexts. A total of 13 recommendations derived from four SS were analyzed. The mean AGREE-II score was 58.25, while AGREE-REX evaluations yielded average scores of 45.82 (ideal scenario) and 39.07 (local scenario). The guidance predominantly addressed oral care assessment and strategies for preventing and managing respiratory infections in ICU patients. Overall, there is a clear shortage of rigorously developed CPGs that offer structured oral care recommendations for ICU settings. Dentists are essential in advancing and refining these recommendations to help prevent oral complications in critically ill patients.
