The new ground-floor location removes the challenge of stairs at the former Port Douglas Manor and offers wheelchair access, along with ample street parking behind the practice.

Inside, the new space is brighter and more spacious, providing a more comfortable waiting area for patients while allowing the team to continue delivering comprehensive dental care. 

Services range from routine check-ups and cleans through to fillings, extractions, children’s dentistry, crowns and bridges, dentures and dental implants. 

The clinic also offers smile makeovers, full-mouth dental implant treatments designed to replace all teeth, mouthguards, teeth whitening, root canals, wisdom tooth extractions and sleep studies.

Behind the move is years of dedication from the husband-and-wife team, who have quietly built the practice over time.

Continuing the legacy

Led by Dr Rajesh Padnakad and Dr Maitrayee Pathak, Port Douglas Dentist has been part of the local community for more than 14 years, a journey that began unexpectedly.

What started as a short holiday to Far North Queensland soon turned into a long-term commitment to the region.

The couple took over the clinic in 2012 after acquiring the long-running practice of Dr Les Krassovich, who had served the Port Douglas community since the early 1990s. 

Since then, they have continued to build on that strong foundation while expanding their presence across the region.

Over the past 14 years, Dr Padnakad and Dr Pathak have operated and taken over three dental practices, including establishing Gentle Dentist Mareeba in 2013, which continues to serve the Mareeba community.

From 2012 to 2017, Port Douglas Dentist operated from the Saltwater building, during which time Dr Pathak also worked as a dentist at Lotus Glen Correctional Centre until 2015.

In 2017, both practitioners furthered their qualifications through James Cook University, with Dr Padnakad completing a Graduate Diploma in Dental Implantology and Dr Pathak completing a Graduate Diploma in Orthodontics.