HE may be retiring, but well-known NHS dentist Roger Thwaites ensured his patients will carry on smiling.

Mr Thwaites, 64, has made sure every one of his 3,000 patients, many of whom he has treated for years, are being cared for by another health service dentist just up the road from his old surgery.

He has practised in Newport for 40 years at the Richmond Chambers practice, and has got to know many of his patients as friends.

Ensuring they would be well cared for was an important part of his retirement preparation, he said.

"I won't miss the job that much - after 40 years I think I've done my time," he said.

"But I've seen many of my patients become friends over the years and I will certainly miss that aspect of it.

"I had about 2,500 adults and 500 to 600 children, and I arranged for them to be transferred to the NHS practice on Llanthewy Road, which is literally next door to where they are used to going.

"For 40 years I was the only dentist they knew, so I think it's a bit of a shock for some of them. But I'm sure the practice on Llanthewy Road will do a good job."

Roger was known for stoically sticking with the NHS and denying the temptations of working with a private practice.

He said: "When people started going private I decided I wanted to keep treating my patients the same way as I always had. "I suppose I had a bit of a social conscience as well."

Roger lives in Westfield Road, Malpas, with his wife, Dilys. He has worked in Newport since 1966, has six children, and was also the dentist for the Newport Gwent Dragons rugby team - which is one thing he doesn't intend to give up.

He said: "I've always been a big fan of the Newport rugby team, and will spend a lot of my time in retirement watching rugby.

"I'm also going to travel to New Zealand and Australia, and play lots of golf."