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Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has severely interfered regular health care delivery and its uptake by patients. Knowing how this pandemic has affected maxillofacial health seeking behaviour of general population can guide health care providers with treatment and management.

Objective: To determine the impact of COVID-19 in maxillofacial health seeking behaviour of general population.

Materials and Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based study was conducted at the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery in KIST medical college teaching hospital from December 2020 to February 2021 after ethical clearance. Patients’ demographic data were collected in the self-made pretested proforma from the Outpatient Department card, history, and clinical examination. Maxillofacial problems of patients were determined according to final diagnosis. Data were analysed using SPSS v.25 and presented as frequency and percentage.

Result: Of total 171 patients, 55 (32.16%) males and 116 (67.83%) females reported for maxillofacial services. The age ranged between 3-84 years and 113 (66.08%) were without any underlying medical conditions. Patients mostly came with urgent complaints (125, 73%) and only four (2%) came for elective care; among them mostly came due to acute pulpal (64, 37.42%) and periodontal (32, 18.71%) conditions.

Conclusion: COVID-19 has strong impact on utilisation of dental services. People avoided seeking regular dental care and limited it to the acute conditions mainly. Based on the results of this study, we have reasons to speculate that people’s requirements for dental services might grow explosively in the post COVID-19 period and necessary preparation is required to address greater needs.

Coronavirus disease 2019; non-urgent; oral and maxillofacial surgery; pandemic; treatment; urgent.