Table 1.

Recommendations for the management of surgical procedures in oral and maxillofacial surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Priority	Examples of procedures	Recommendation
Low (elective surgery) otherwise healthy patient	Orbital decompression (visual acuity not affected) Orthognathic surgery Primary and secondary surgery for cleft lip and palate malformations Secondary reconstructive procedures (free/pedicled flaps) Surgery for temporomandibular pathologies that cause limited pain Treatment of craniofacial malformations without sleep apnea/elevated intracranial pressure	Deferral of surgery until COVID-19 pandemic situation has settled
Low (elective surgery) COVID-19 patient	Orbital decompression (no affectation of visual acuity) Orthognathic surgery Primary and secondary surgery for cleft lip and palate malformations Secondary reconstructive procedures (free/pedicled flaps) Surgery for temporomandibular pathologies that cause limited pain Treatment of craniofacial malformations without sleep apnea/elevated intracranial pressure	Deferral of surgery until COVID-19 pandemic situation has settled
Intermediate otherwise healthy patient	Benign, slowly growing tumors Closed fractures with limited impairment of function Larger cystic lesions Surgery for temporomandibular pathologies that cause severe pain Treatment of craniofacial malformations with sleep apnea/elevated intracranial pressure	Deferral of surgery until COVID-19 pandemic situation has settled as long as risks of deferral are under control
Intermediate COVID-19 patient	Benign, slowly growing tumors Closed, non-functional fractures Larger cystic lesions Surgery for temporomandibular pathologies that cause severe pain Treatment of craniofacial malformations with sleep apnea/elevated intracranial pressure	Deferral of surgery until COVID-19 pandemic situation has settled as long as risks of deferral are under control; recovery from COVID-19 should be confirmed
Urgent otherwise healthy patient	Deep head and neck infections without risk of airway obstruction Malignant tumors with/without reconstructive procedures Orbital decompression (reduction of visual acuity) Open, comminuted fracture Tracheotomy (airway obstruction expected)	Surgery
Urgent COVID-19 patient	Malignant tumors with/without reconstructive procedures Orbital decompression (reduction of visual acuity)	Surgery; recovery from COVID-19 should be confirmed
	Open, comminuted fractures Tracheotomy (airway obstruction expected)	Surgery
Emergency otherwise healthy patient	Deep head and neck infections with risk of airway obstruction Severe hemorrhage	Surgery
Emergency COVID-19 patient	Deep head and neck infections Severe hemorrhage	Surgery

Note: Procedures such as removal of teeth and related complications such as bleeding, treatment of localized abscesses in the oral cavity, repair of oro-antral fistulae, treatment of pulpitis, etc. should be handled by general dentistry.