I grew up in Schaumburg, a suburb of Chicago, where dentistry wasn’t just a profession — it was part of my family’s identity. Being around the field from a young age gave me a natural eye for detail and a deep respect for the craft.
I went on to study dental technology at the University of Iowa, then landed my first professional role in Stillwater, Minnesota, where I sharpened my skills and learned what high-quality prosthetic work really means.
A family vacation changed everything.
Florida felt right — the energy, the lifestyle, the opportunity — and I knew it was where I needed to build my future.
I joined Strupp & Brumm, one of the most respected names in the field, and spent four years mastering advanced restorative techniques and high-end esthetics. That experience became the foundation for my next leap.
Today, I own and operate Clearwater Dental Prosthetics in Clearwater, Florida, serving over 12 doctors locally and nationwide. My lab blends precision, artistry, and a patient-first mindset — the same values I grew up with.
And the best part of the work hasn’t changed: that moment when a patient sees themselves with new teeth. The way their face lights up. The confidence that returns instantly. I get a front-row seat to a life-changing transformation, and that’s what keeps my passionate about what I do.
Rich Wodzinski has been a guest on 1 episode.
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Episode 434: From FDLA 2026: Chris Bradley, Richard Wodzinski, Dawn Roniger, & Kaveh Shams
July 20th, 2026 | 1 hr 3 mins
abutments, accuracy, all-on-x, analog dentistry, anterior restorations, apprentices, apprenticeship, artistry, automation, bl1, bleaching shades, brushing techniques, cad design, cad/cam, cam software, canada, ceramics, ceramics course, ceramics workflow, chairside, chemistry, chris bradley, chroma, cobalt chrome, collaboration, color science, consumables, continuing education, craftsmanship, creation, creation porcelain, custom recipe, custom shades, custom strategies, custom workflow, dawn roniger, demonstrations, dental community, dental innovation, dental lab, dental laboratory, dental materials, dental podcast, dental technician, dental technology, denture workflow, dentures, design software, digital dentistry, digital evolution, digital solutions, digital workflow, disc changer, e.max, education, education programs, efficiency, engineering, enrico steger, esthetics, excellence, exocad, fdla, florida dental laboratory association, full arch, future of dentistry, gc america, gc initial, gingiva, glaze, hands-on training, harley street, hue, hybrids, hyperdent, implant bars, innovation, italy, javier, kaveh shams, kolinsky brushes, lab owner, lab values, laboratory education, laboratory management, laboratory solutions, layering, lectures, lithium disilicate, london, m2, m5, m6, machine maintenance, magic color, matisse, mentorship, military school, milling, milling center, milling machine, milling strategies, modular design, monolithic, murano glass, nesting, open architecture, open system, optishade, oral design, patient outcomes, photography, physics, pink porcelain, pmma, polarized camera, polycarbonate, porcelain, porcelain systems, precision, predictable results, productivity, ranger school, remake reduction, remakes, removables, richard wodzinski, scanner, self-service, shade analysis, shade matching, shade recipe, single centrals, smileline, smileline usa, software development, software integration, stain, symposium, technical support, technician training, technology, titanium, trade shows, value, vendors, voices from the bench, webinars, willie geller, workflow, workflow consistency, workflow optimization, young technicians, zirconia, zirconia staining, zirkonzahn
From the FDLA Symposium, Elvis and Barb welcome Chris Bradley, Richard Wodzinski, and Dawn Roniger to discuss the latest in shade matching, ceramics, and the technology helping labs achieve more predictable results. Then Kaveh Shams from Zirkonzahn Canada shares his journey into digital dentistry while talking milling, education, and the philosophy that's made Zirkonzahn a leader in the industry.