The vision of the FDS is to be the centre of excellence in dental education, research and oral hearth care, while the mission of the faculty is to foster excellence in dental education, research and induce commitment to care in order to promote oral health for the nation.

The dental undergraduate training started in Sri Lanka with the establishment of the Department of Dental Surgery under the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo in 1943. With the aim of further expansion, it was moved to Augusta Hill, Peradeniya in 1953. From then this institute functioned as an independent dental school and subsequently affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine Peradeniya with its instigation in 1961. In 1980, five departments were created within the dental school. FDS achieved its faculty status in 1986. Making a revolution in Sri Lankan dental history, the Faculty of Dental Sciences (FDS) was relocated at the present site in 1998 under the grant aid project of Japan.

Total of 75 local and 5 foreign students are graduated annually from the Faculty. English is the medium of instruction and assessments in the programme. Furthermore, it provides postgraduate programmes leading to M.Phil and Ph.D degrees.The FDS also offers training facilities for Diplomas in Hospital Dental Practice & General Dental Practice, MDs in Orthodontics, Restorative Dentistry, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Community Dentistry and Oral Pathology and M.Sc in Community Dentistry in collaboration with the Post Graduate Institute of Medicine. The Dental Auxiliary Training School is an appendage of the Faculty which trains dental auxiliary personnel necessary for the entire country. The Faculty also conducts certificate courses for both local and foreign graduates. At present, the Faculty is in the preparation of a series of M.Sc programmes to cater to national and international needs.    

FDS also acts as a tertiary patient care center (tertiary referral centre) for the entire country and provides oral pathology biopsy/cancer diagnostic services for all the hospitals in the island. Addressing special dental needs, the FDS treats over a hundred thousand patients annually in addition to generalized OPD services. Specialized treatments include advanced cancer surgeries, orthognathic surgeries, advanced orthodontic treatments, prosthetic replacement of facial deformities, cleft lip/plate surgeries, management of disabled children, diagnosis/management of oral cancer and pre cancer, crown and bridge treatments etc. The faculty also conducts out-reach programmes for underprivileged people in the remote areas of the country as a service to the nation.  

Those who achieve the rare opportunity to enter into the noble profession of dentistry will also enroll in to the biggest residential University in Asia with the opportunity to interact with students from all communities with a great amount of facilities in sports and recreation enabling them to mingle with a culturally diverse and academically rich society.

Upul B.Dissanayake
Professor
Dean/Faculty of Dental Sciences