About Karl K. Wirtz, DDS
Dr. Karl Wirtz lived in Iowa until age five. His family then moved to Missouri, where he grew up on a farm outside the Kansas City area. While watching his father (who was a “mechanical wizard”) invent new techniques and machines to improve the farming lifestyle, Dr. Wirtz developed a passion for precision handicrafts and problem-solving ideas. That passion carries over to today where he is constantly devising new techniques and advanced dental therapies to better serve his patients. Although he considered a career in professional baseball (and still loves the game), a career in dentistry seemed to be a better long-term choice. So, after attending the University of Missouri – Columbia for three years, Dr. Wirtz was accepted at the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Dentistry. He graduated with distinction in 1977 and immediately settled into the Phoenix area to enjoy Arizona’s climate during his career years. Dr. Wirtz moved his dental practice to Sun City West in March 2000 and established Sunridge Dental Care. Since then, Dr. Wirtz has continued to extensively explore the field of dentistry. In the past three years alone, he has attended over 700 hours of continuing education courses in areas such as removable prosthodontics and implant prosthetics. Dr. Wirtz is a graduate of The Misch International Implant Institute , an alumnus of the Pankey Institute , and a recent graduate of the Dawson Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida. Dr. Wirtz is also a trained dental lab technician and does most of his own lab work in the office to provide quality, personalized care for his patients. In addition to being an eternal student, Dr. Wirtz hopes to share the knowledge he has gained. He recently renovated his office to include a training facility. There, he welcomes other dental professionals to learn about removable prosthodontics and other areas of dentistry, as well as help his patients learn more about their dental health. Dr. Wirtz is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI) and a Life Member of the Christian Dental Society. He is a member of the American College of Oral Implantology, the Implant Prosthodontics Section of the ICOI, and the Speaking/Consulting Network. Dr. Wirtz is also a charter member and restorative consultant for the Comprehensive Care Continuum Study Club. He is the founder and presenter of the Study Club for Removable Prosthodontics. Dr. Wirtz and his wife, Barbara, have been residents of Sun City Grand in Surprise, Arizona since 2002. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Wirtz enjoys golf, reading, and baseball. He also enjoys watching his favorite team, the Arizona Diamondbacks.
