AI in dentistry: A conversation with grad Peter Fritz

Alumnus Peter Fritz (DDS 1997, PhD 2003) is a periodontist who has established a new Lectureship in AI Enhanced Dentistry at U of T. We caught up with him to discuss why AI is becoming so important in dentistry.

What initially sparked your interest in artificial intelligence (AI)?

A mix of curiosity and accountability. I needed to understand how this technology might reshape how we learn, teach, diagnose and make decisions, especially in high-stakes applications involving patient care where trust is everything. AI has enormous potential, but it demands thoughtful leadership. I didn’t want to watch on the sidelines. I wanted to help shape how it's used. And U of T gave me the intellectual grounding and the space to pursue that challenge seriously.

Can you tell us about your academic and professional journey that led to this point?

Let’s just say it’s been more jungle gym than ladder. While I trained as a periodontist, I quickly realized that stepping outside my clinical comfort zone made me better inside it. Each additional degree, whether in business, law, innovation, or now AI, has sharpened how I think, how I lead, and ultimately, how I care. That range across disciplines has helped me better navigate this complex, fast-changing and fractious world.  Progress depends on relationships and information. That’s why I keep returning to U of T. It doesn’t just teach us what to think; it prepares us for how to learn. For me, it’s not just an institution. It’s a home base for the future.

What inspired you to establish the new Lectureship in AI Enhanced Dentistry at U of T?

The world doesn’t wait, and neither should we. I believe education isn’t just about keeping up; it’s about leading from the desirable future. Dentistry has always balanced precision with compassion. With AI moving rapidly into our field, I saw an opportunity and a responsibility to guide that shift. The lectureship is about creating a space where clinicians and researchers can engage with emerging technologies and ideas critically and ethically so that our values evolve alongside our tools, not behind them.

Why do you believe AI is an important area for advancement within dentistry and healthcare today?

Because trust is our currency, and AI is going to test that. It’s already changing how we learn, teach and develop future leaders. It has changed how we diagnose, how we triage, and how we earn trust. But technology alone doesn’t make care better; people do. We need to ensure that AI is integrated with intention, so that it amplifies what matters most: accuracy, equity, access, and above all, compassion. If we get that right, AI can help us scale excellence without sacrificing empathy. After all, we must remember the stakes are human.

As a proud alum, what message would you like to share with fellow alumni about innovation, lifelong learning, or the future of the profession?

Lifelong learning isn’t about collecting degrees; it’s about staying open, staying curious, and building range. Our profession is evolving fast, and innovation demands both courage and humility. But here’s the good news: we don’t have to do it alone. Institutions like U of T give us the tools and community not just to adapt, but to lead. When we learn from each other, challenge each other, and invest in each other, we don’t just keep up with the future. We help define it.

What are your goals for this new AI-focused course or lectureship? What impact do you hope it will have on students, research, and the profession?

The goal isn’t just to teach AI, it’s to create a forum where dentistry learns from beyond itself. This lectureship brings in thinkers with range from other sectors, people who can show us the desirable future through entirely different lenses. When students and researchers are exposed to how AI is transforming industries like law, finance, logistics, and public health, our own vision of what’s possible in dentistry expands. This isn’t about preserving the status quo, it’s about redefining excellence, ethics, and innovation in patient care.

My ultimate goal? That, as a profession, we simply get better every year. Not just with our hands, but with broader vision, better questions, and more profound empathy for our patients, our colleagues and our communities.