Born and raised in Greensburg, KY, where small-town roots and community run deep, Dr. Kali Gupton once pictured herself standing in front of a classroom, teaching a room full of kids. Her mother was a teacher, and the classroom felt like home. “I grew up in the classroom with her,” she says. “I loved working with kids, and I loved teaching and learning myself.”
That love of learning never left — it just found a new direction. “When I discovered pediatric dentistry, it clicked,” she says. “I get to teach, I get to learn, I get to work with kids, and I get to work with my hands.”
Today, after completing her pediatric residency at the University of Kentucky, Dr. Gupton leads the team at London Kids Dental in London, Kentucky. Through the support of PepperPointe Partnerships, she’s continuing a practice’s legacy grounded in teamwork, mentorship, and genuine care for families across rural Kentucky.
Dr. Gupton grew up surrounded by a strong sense of community, a value that continues to shape her approach to both life and dentistry. She and her husband, Cody, also a Greensburg native, are raising two sons, Beau and Sammy, who fill their days with golf-cart rides, bike adventures, and the kind of laughter that reminds her why she loves working with children. “We live on a golf course, so we ride around as a family,” she laughs. “I don’t play golf, but I love watching Cody and the boys have fun. We like to go on walks and just spend time outside.”
Her small-town upbringing shaped her values. “I always knew I wanted to serve a rural community,” she says. “There’s such a need for pediatric care in areas like ours.”
During college, Dr. Gupton spent summers at Wise Dentistry for Kids in Campbellsville, Kentucky under the mentorship of Dr. Heather Wise. “Watching Dr. Wise run her practice was inspiring,” she says. “I did anything that needed doing — cleaning chairs, taking out the trash — but seeing how she cared for her patients and her team stuck with me.” Later, she connected with Dr. Donna Klein of Pediatric Dentistry of Winchester, who continues to influence her career. Both practices are supported by PepperPointe Partnerships, and the mentorship Dr. Gupton received from these doctors helped shape her approach to leadership and patient care.
“They’ve both been so generous with their time,” Dr. Gupton says. “I still call Dr. Wise all the time and she always picks up. Having mentors like that makes a huge difference.”
Her two-year hospital-based residency at the University of Kentucky tested and refined her confidence. “We saw everything from trauma, complex medical histories to OR cases,” she says. “It was busy and sometimes overwhelming, but it prepared me for real life.” That experience still shapes her advice to residents today. “Residency is hard, but it’s worth it. Once you’re out, you realize how much you’ve learned and how capable you are.”
In May 2024, the practice—then known as KB Kids Dentistry—experienced a devastating fire that temporarily closed its doors. Founding provider Dr. Kim Brown quickly pivoted, continuing to care for patients out of another PepperPointe-supported office to ensure families could still access care.
“When I joined PepperPointe near the end of my pediatric dental career, I was grateful for the organization’s commitment to ensuring continuity of care for our patients during retirement transitions. I couldn’t have asked for a smoother experience than welcoming Dr. Gupton to London Kids Dental. Her warmth, work ethic, and devotion to our patients align perfectly with our mission and have made her an invaluable part of our practice,” Dr. Kim Brown shares.
Inside the practice, Dr. Gupton’s leadership philosophy is simple: lead with gratitude and build trust. “My staff is amazing,” she says. “We call ourselves the ‘Dream Team’ — our group chat is literally named that. Everyone has their strengths, and we build on those. Nobody’s above anybody.” That culture extends beyond clinic hours. “We had a pumpkin-painting night and brought our kids. We work hard, but we make time to have fun, too.”
For residents and new dentists exploring their first roles, she offers straightforward guidance: “Visit the office. Talk to the staff. You’ll feel the culture right away. Ask questions and trust your gut — you’ll know if it’s right.” She pauses, then adds, “You’ve put in the work; you know what you’re doing. And when you’re unsure, lean on your mentors. None of us do this alone.”
As she works toward her own ownership opportunity, Dr. Gupton is focused on continuing to grow with her team and her patients. “The most exciting thing for me is learning from each other and helping more kids get the care they need,” she says.
What began as a dream to teach has simply evolved into a new kind of classroom — one where compassion, patience, and encouragement guide every visit. Her story, grounded in education and community, is a reminder that true teachers never stop teaching — they just find new ways to reach their students.
About PepperPointe Partnerships
PepperPointe Partnerships is one of the largest doctor-owned, doctor-controlled dental service organizations (DSO) in the country — built not to own dental practices, but to protect true doctor ownership at every level of the business. Our model is designed to preserve personalized patient care by empowering doctors to lead their practices, build long-term value, and retain full clinical and operational autonomy.
Headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, and founded in 2017, PepperPointe provides long-term, strategic, and innovative solutions to help doctors grow their practices, strengthen patient relationships, and build lasting value. Today, we support three doctor-owned Group Practices representing 75 practices, 115 locations, more than 160 doctors, and over 1,000 team members across Kentucky and Virginia, as well as an office-based sedation company that expands access and continuity of care for pediatric dental patients.