Gentle Dental Hervey Bay is a purpose-built dental practice delivered as a complete design and build in regional Queensland. Created as a flagship home for an established and fast-growing practice, the project transforms a vacant 2,017 m² site into a highly functional healthcare facility designed around clinical performance, patient comfort and future growth.

The new practice provides the space and infrastructure required to meet growing local demand while establishing a stronger presence within the region. Its generous proportions, natural light and warm material palette create an environment that feels calm and approachable, supported by carefully planned clinical and operational spaces.

Project Background
After outgrowing their previous clinic within several years, practice owners Dr Joshua Smith and Chantelle Smith began planning a new facility that could support the next stage of Gentle Dental’s growth.

The couple purchased a vacant site that offered the scale and visibility needed for a flagship facility. Developing a new dental practice from the ground up required careful consideration of feasibility, approvals, clinical planning and construction.

The brief called for a spacious and welcoming practice that could increase clinical capacity, improve daily workflows and provide a comfortable experience for patients of all ages.

OPTIMA was engaged to guide the project from early site due diligence and strategy through to design, documentation, construction and fitout. This integrated approach provided a single point of accountability while allowing the Gentle Dental team to remain focused on operating their existing practice.

Solution
Delivered as a complete design and build solution, the project included due diligence, project documentation and approvals, dental practice design, construction and full fitout.

The position and orientation of the building were carefully considered in response to the site. Although accessed from a court, the property backs onto a main road, creating an opportunity to establish a prominent external presence and improve visibility within the surrounding area.

Internally, eight fully equipped surgeries provide increased clinical capacity, with dual-entry access supporting efficient movement between patient areas, treatment rooms and back-of-house functions. A central sterilisation area, CBCT and photography room, laboratory, recovery room and dedicated support spaces bring the practice’s clinical requirements into a cohesive layout.

A large reception and waiting area creates an open and welcoming arrival experience. This is supported by a dedicated payments area and children’s zone, helping organise patient movement while responding to the needs of families.

Light natural timbers, greenery and extensive natural light establish a warm and refined interior. Wide hallways, high ceilings and generous spatial planning contribute to a sense of openness, making the practice easy to navigate for patients and staff.

Dedicated staff, administration and business areas support the operational needs of the growing team. Externally, 27 on-site car parks and considered landscaping improve accessibility and complete the transformation of the previously vacant site.

Key Benefits
Gentle Dental Hervey Bay now operates from a purpose-built facility designed to support continued growth in patient demand and clinical capacity. The practice benefits from efficient staff and patient movement, expanded treatment facilities, dedicated team spaces and a welcoming environment for families.

The building’s prominent position and architectural presence have also given Gentle Dental a stronger identity within the Hervey Bay community.

The project demonstrates how considered site planning, dental-specific design and coordinated construction can create a regional healthcare facility that supports patients, practitioners and the wider community well into the future.

Design: OPTIMA
Photography: Big & Small Productions