It took years of patience and planning for Jim Zittnan to realize his dream of creating and selling Polynesian-themed “grillz,” or cosmetic dental fronts.

He didn’t have much of a choice, really, after being convicted on state and federal charges related to drug distribution and serving five years in prison.

“This month is actually the two-year anniversary of me getting out,” said Zittnan, 43. “I feel like I’m successful right now. You can go from doing something bad to changing your life around.”

The Waianae resident owns Koalition Grillz LLC and meets with clients islandwide to design custom removable fronts made from 10- to 24-karat gold. He uses plaster of Paris to create dental molds, then sends them to a jeweler friend in his hometown of Chicago to be manufactured. Prices start at $600 per front made of 10-karat gold.

While hip-hop artists have sported grillz since the 1980s, Zittnan hopes to spur new interest in his products among local residents. He said he enjoys interacting with his customers.

“I love building relationships,” he said. “I was so deprived of that for five years. All I could do was better myself. Was I going to try and play the system, or was I going to just go through it like a man?

“My big message is this: No matter what you’re going through or where you feel you’re at, just look for your passion. This is my passion, and I don’t work a day in my life now.”

Zittnan started his business in 2015, but it wasn’t until April that he felt ready to go public with the new design via social media. His Polynesian Tribal Grill was inspired by many of the same artistic elements found in Poly-style tribal tattoos, with Zittnan creating the design and working with Chicago jeweler Munkz KG of Golden Rose Grillz to complete each custom order in about two weeks.

“I’ve sold about six or seven of these already,” Zittnan said, displaying his own Polynesian grill he made as a prototype. “It’s a laser-inscribed kind of thing, (and) you can do it with color, so when you go out in the sun, it really starts popping.”

To help get the word out about the new Polynesian design, Koalition Grillz will take part in The Pit Stop at Wet’n’Wild Hawaii on Friday. Zittnan will have his fronts on display from 4 to 9 p.m. and will answer questions and fit customers for molds during the event, which also includes food vendors, craft booths and custom cars and motorcycles on display.

For more about the Polynesian Tribal Grill, follow Koalition Grillz on Instagram (@koalition_jim) and Facebook at facebook.com/KoalitionGrillz, or call 202-4486.