Prof Paul Lohse was instrumental in establishing the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the University of Pretoria in the early 1970’s with Prof Hannes Pretorius as the first Head of the Department (1978). Prof Pretorius was still an undergraduate student when he assumed the position and held a single qualification in Periodontics. Prof Piet Germishuys therefore took responsibility of the Oral Medicine teaching due to his extensive pharmacological knowledge. He was intimately involved in this field until his passing in 2011. Other heads of the Department include professors Petit, D Verwayen and AW van Zyl.

The Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine is committed to outstanding patient care, excellence in training, and research that is valued both nationally and internationally. The department consists of full time specialists with extensive clinical experience, part-time consultants that target specific areas of training, dentists that are training to become specialists and the most valuable support staff that keeps the department operational.