Oral and maxillofacial surgical site infection (SSI) is a prevalent healthcare-associated illness (HCAI) that may add significant time and money to the recovery process for up to 10 percent of surgeries. New research and results should be evaluated for inclusion in recommendations to prevent SSIs. Antibiotic prophylaxis for clean surgery, pre-operative bathing/showering, and peri-operative oxygen supplementation to prevent SSIs are controversial. Antiseptic surgical dressings, post-operative negative pressure wound care and using chlorhexidine in alcohol as a skin preservative show promising results in preventing SSIs. Independent meta-analyses found that antimicrobial sutures lowered the incidence of SSI after most oral and maxillofacial surgeries, but wound guards had no effect. Oral and maxillofacial SSI is the most preventable HCAI, yet the rate at which it is occurring is increasing. It is important to include certain innovations in care bundles, while the additional study is needed for others, and compliance with care bundles must also be strengthened