When Simone Ricketts began her dental practice, Smile by Design, she not only wanted to fix people's smiles but to make sure they left with one spread across their faces.
A children's playroom, ceiling televisions and aromatherapy are just some of the things that make the Smile By Design dental clinic more fun than frightening.
"I wanted people to feel comfortable coming in. Patients even now comment, 'that was the best dental experience I've ever had'," Simone says.
The South Australian-born dentist opened the surgery in January 2006 when her previous practice, North Buderim Dental, outgrew the building she constructed for it 12 years earlier.
"I really set a goal that I wanted to make a difference in dentistry, and not just be like any other clinic," Simone says.
Although not intending to, she now has an all-female staff, including three dentists and two part-time hygienists.
"I think being all-female is an advantage, I think we communicate very well."
Growing up on a farm in Coonawarra and later attending boarding school in Adelaide, Simone was unsure which career path to tread but is grateful she settled on studying dental surgery at the University of Adelaide.
"It's a very good career for a female, the hours are flexible so you can combine your career with being a mother."
After moving to Ballarat for her first job in dentistry, another large part of Simone's life began when she joined women's service club Zonta, later becoming Branch President. She carried the association with her to the Sunshine Coast in 1994 by joining Caloundra Zonta, who donate to charities and send birthing kits to poor nations.
Despite enjoying life in Ballarat and her working relationship with boss and mentor Jeremy Schocroft, whose son she godmothered, Simone decided to make a lifestyle change and headed for the warmer climate of the Sunshine Coast.
Leaving behind her network of friends to start a new clinic from scratch proved daunting at first.
"Even though I had wanted to move I still had a terrific friendship base in Ballarat and Adelaide of course, but I knew it was a lifestyle choice."
It was a choice that paid off as her practice outgrew itself and she welcomed daughters Amy, 11½, and Phoebe, 9, to the world.
Another profitable decision was to relocate the business to Wises Road, Maroochydore under the name Smile by Design in 2006. This new residence is twice the size yet has also nearly reached capacity. She credits longtime manager Tammy Wilson for finding the location and playing a big role in its interior design.
At the moment Simone has another reason to be smiling. In August and she husband Matthew tied the knot in a surprise ceremony on the Maroochy River.
Through Matthew, Simone has discovered another passion, aviation. Since meeting on a commercial flight three years ago the pair and Simone's daughters regularly attend aerobatics shows and fly antique aircrafts.
Like Zonta luminary Amelia Earhart, Simone hopes to one day have
her pilot's license, proving that in whatever she does, the sky
really is the limit.
