Bright Now! Dental is bringing the first of its two Tri-City clinics to Kennewick by the end of October.

The practice is targeting an Oct. 29 opening date after representatives say they’ve fielded repeated requests to open in the region.

“We’ve been asked by a lot of our union clientele to go into the Tri-Cities for many, many years,” said Lindsay English, director of operations for Smile Brands Inc.

A second Bright Now! office is planned in a leased space near Panera Bread in the Queensgate area of Richland. It’s on track to open by February.

English said continued population growth and the Tri-Cities’ economic vibrancy attracted the company to the region.

Bright Now! Dental operates in 27 states, with 22 locations in Washington alone, the nearest in Spokane. It works with Smile Brands, which calls itself a “dental support organization,” to provide administrative support to dentists so that they can focus nearly exclusively on patient care.

Bright Now! is popular with union members due to agreements already in place with many unions which allow patients to pay “very little or no out of pocket costs,” English said.

Much of the demand from potential patients has come from visitors to Bright Now! booths posted at union conventions, including one for members of the Service Employees International Union.

Patients of all ages may be treated at Bright Now!, including those with disabilities.

The company touts flexible hours for patients, including evening and Saturday appointments.

Bright Now! aims to be a full-service provider, without the need to refer out to other specialists. The office will bring in specialists, as needed, to treat patients.

English said Bright Now! is “very affordable and considered a preferred provider for most dental insurance companies.” A cash discount is available for those without insurance.

Six employees will be hired to start the Kennewick location, including one dentist and one hygienist. Additional workers may be added as the practice grows but it’s not expected to add an additional dentist for at least a few years, English said.

A similar start-up crew is expected for the Queensgate location.

Dr. Ashifa Nurani is the professional corporation owner of all Bright Now! locations in Washington. English said Nurani will help start up the Kennewick clinic while a permanent dentist is hired. The dentist will be employed directly by Nurani.

The 3,000-square-foot space for Bright Now! Dental is being leased at 1220 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite A-105, in Kennewick, just north of Target.

Bright Now! did not release the exact figure expected to remodel and equip either office, but Smile Brands Inc. chief marketing officer Jody Martin said, “We’ve made significant investments to guarantee patient comfort and state-of-the-art dentistry.”

Building permits filed with the city of Kennewick list commercial remodeling and other improvements for its new office at $470,000.

Bright Now! Dental in Kennewick has scheduled a soft opening for Oct. 26 and a ribbon-cutting is planned for Oct. 29.

Bright Now! Dental: 1220 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Suite A-105, Kennewick; brightnow.com; 509-378-3530.