The discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery is concerned with diagnosis, surgical and related management of diseases, injuries and defects of both the functional and aesthetic aspects of the oral and maxillofacial region. This includes curative, preventive, reconstructive or emergency care for the teeth, mouth, jaws and facial structures. Therefore the OMF Surgery has a fairly broad scope with important linkages with many other disciplines in medicine and dentistry

With the expansion of Dental School in to five Departments in 1980, the disciplines of   Oral surgery and   Oral pathology were amalgamated for administrative purposes and the Dept of Oral Surgery and Oral Pathology was created. In 1990 these two divisions were separated and formulated in to two Departments.

With the Japanese Grant Aid in 1998 the Dept of Oral Surgery became much expanded with new infrastructure, up to date equipments and improvement of manpower which led to a significant rise in the number of patients seeking treatment.

The International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (IAOMS) has recognized this department as a centre of excellence and a training centre from the year 2002 taking in to account the contributions made towards the Maxillofacial field.

In addition Division of General surgery and Division of Anesthesiology are coming under the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial surgery.

Considering the recent expansions taken place in the Department with regards to the scope of services offered both academically and clinically, due to the improvement of facilities, manpower and infrastructure the name of the Department was changed from Oral Surgery to Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery with the senate approval in May 2005.