A dentist has quelled fears that a decades-old practice is closing down. 

Neil Sumser-Lupson has put people's minds at ease after rumours circulated that Spixworth Dental Practice would be shutting its doors to patients. 

The Crostwick Lane practice, opened in August 1995, has serviced the community's dental needs for nearly 30 years under Mr Sumser-Lupson, who has seen multiple generations of the same family sit in his chair. 

Norwich Evening News: The practice was opened in the mid-ninetiesThe practice was opened in the mid-nineties (Image: Google Maps)

Posting on social media, he said: "I can now disclose that I have passed ownership of the practice to Chandrika Avvaru, a popular local dentist.

"I hope in doing so the practice will be able to continue offering NHS dental care for the foreseeable future."

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Ms Avvaru is the principal dentist at Brundall Dental Practice, which offers NHS treatments to children under 18 and private treatments to adults.

Norwich Evening News: Chandrika Avvaru, from Brundall Dental Practice, will be taking over Chandrika Avvaru, from Brundall Dental Practice, will be taking over (Image: Google Maps)

Neil added: "You will no doubt see some new faces when you visit but also most of the old familiar ones, myself included.

"I'm sure there will be 'teething' problems along the way so please bear with us during this transitional time.

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"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my staff for their support and loyalty over the years and extend that thanks to my patients, some of which I've looked after for nearly 30 years.

Norwich Evening News: Norfolk has been described as a dental desert in recent yearsNorfolk has been described as a dental desert in recent years (Image: Rui Vieira/PA Wire)

"I'm not sure I will still be able to see you all in another 30 years but I look forward to seeing you all again soon."

In recent years, Norfolk has often been described as a "dental desert", with only a handful of practices across the region taking on new NHS patients and having thousands of people on waiting lists.

Between 2014 and 2022 the county lost 85 NHS dentists, lowering the total number to fewer than 400, meaning there was an average of 38 NHS dentists for every 100,000 people.