08/31/2026
Dear Patients, Friends, and Colleagues,
After forty-one years of practicing dentistry, the time has come for me to put down the mirror and explorer, turn off the drill for the final time, and officially step into retirement.
Looking back over more than four decades, it is hard to put into words what this career has meant to me. I have spent a lifetime working intimately with this community, watching children I once treated grow up to bring in children of their own. What started as a profession of science and precision quickly became something much deeper: a daily routine built on trust, shared stories, and genuine human connection across generations.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of you. Thank you for placing your trust—and your smiles—in my hands year after year, through routine cleanings, unexpected toothaches, and everything in between. Thank you also to my wonderful staff and colleagues past and present, whose dedication, laughter, and shared commitment made every single workday a joy.
As I turn the page to this next chapter, I am looking forward to a slower pace, traveling without checking a calendar, and spending more time with family. While I will certainly miss the daily interactions with all of you, I leave knowing that my patients have been the greatest part of my life's work.
Thank you for forty-one wonderful years. I wish you all continued health and many years of bright smiles.
Warmly,
Norman Thaxter, DDS
We have another great Dentist, Zachary McComb DMD, coming in taking my place that you will all be happy with.