OBJECTIVE: The conventional treatment for oral and maxillofacial abscesses involves incision and drainage. However, postoperative dressing changes often cause pain and other discomfort to patients. Therefore, we explored the use of vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) technology for treating oral and maxillofacial abscesses. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the efficacy and value of VSD combined with continuous irrigation using physiological saline to treat oral and maxillofacial abscesses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from 115 patients with oral and maxillofacial abscesses were collected. Patients were divided into two groups based on the treatment strategy: 68 received traditional treatment (Group 1) and 47 were treated with the VSD device (Group 2). The treatment period, incision length and numerical rating scale (NRS) score were compared between the two groups. Postoperative complications were also recorded. RESULTS: All patients were successfully treated and discharged. Group 2 had a longer treatment duration (10.00 ± 5.87 days) than Group 1 (8.07 ± 3.47 days
p <
0.05) but demonstrated shorter incision lengths (3.04 ± 0.31 cm vs. 3.57 ± 0.44 cm
p <
0.01) and lower NRS scores on postoperative day 1 (1.83 ± 0.70 vs. 2.96 ± 0.83
p <
0.01). Complications included two allergic reactions to adhesive material in Group 2 and higher reoperation rates (Group 2: 4 cases
Group 1: 1 case). CONCLUSION: VSD treatment for localized oral and maxillofacial abscesses is comfortable for patients and can reduce the length of surgical incisions. However, the therapeutic effect for maxillofacial multispace infection is still controversial.