At the end of June 2026, Dr. Kaitlin Cox began seeing patients at Braelinn Village Family Dentistry in Peachtree City. She arrived after years of study and service in communities with limited access to care.
Her father, Dr. Todd Cox, founded and owns the practice. Their offices are now just down the hall from each other. Cox is starting to build her own patient base.
Cox completed her undergraduate degree in agricultural and medical biotechnology at the University of Kentucky in 2022, graduating magna cum laude, before earning her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree there in May 2026.
Cox grew up in Newnan and graduated from The Heritage School. Both of her parents are originally from Kentucky. They met at the University of Kentucky, where Todd Cox studied dentistry and her mother earned a master's degree.
That family connection made Lexington a natural choice. Cox graduated magna cum laude in 2022 with an undergraduate degree in agricultural and medical biotechnology. She then stayed at the university for dental school and earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree in May 2026.
Her decision came early.
Dentistry gave her the mix she wanted. It offered scientific problem-solving and room for the painting and drawing she has always enjoyed. Treatment planning often calls for a creative answer that fits one patient, not just a standard solution.
During her final two years at the University of Kentucky, Cox volunteered with Remote Area Medical in rural Eastern Kentucky, where patients sometimes traveled for hours to receive care.
That patient-by-patient approach took shape during dental school. Cox spent two years as president of a women's organization that provided dental care to women living in a shelter after domestic violence. The group raised more than $20,000 for free treatment.
During her final two years at the University of Kentucky, she also volunteered with Remote Area Medical in rural Eastern Kentucky. Some patients traveled for hours to receive care. She hopes to continue that work in Georgia.
An earlier access report details the consequences of delayed dental care.
Cox brings a broad view of oral health to the treatment room. Her training focused on systemic health and the ways dental conditions can affect the rest of the body, including the heart.
She explains conditions and treatment choices in plain terms. Patients can then decide with a clear view of what might happen if they leave a problem untreated. "Patient autonomy is extremely important," she said. Informed decisions still require useful information.
The practice is accepting new patients while Cox builds her patient base. Next-day appointments may be available. Same-day visits are sometimes possible for urgent problems.
One recent patient needed an abscessed tooth removed during the visit. The relief was immediate, Cox said. On another day, she completed six crowns for a woman who wanted to restore her smile.
Those cases explain why Cox puts so much weight on adaptability and reassurance. Patients arrive with different fears, questions and levels of pain. Some have avoided dentistry for years.
"It's okay that you haven't been to the dentist in many years," she said. "We are here to truly help you and work with you, and get you back to the best health possible."
Dr. Alicia Frank and the wider practice team have supported Cox as she moves from dental school into full-time patient care.
Her return to Georgia is personal, too. Cox and Izaiah Flores recently bought their first home together in Newnan, where she grew up.
The couple met as students at the University of Kentucky and have been together for about six years. Flores is now a counselor at Starr's Mill High School.
They are due to marry in early October at the church where Cox grew up. About 215 guests are expected. After the wedding, she plans to use the name Dr. Kaitlin Cox Flores. The practice will update its materials over time.
Cox is also a fourth-generation member of P.E.O., which supports educational opportunities for women. Outside dentistry, she enjoys cooking, skiing, travelling, hiking and biking.
Her work and community ties now point in the same direction.
Braelinn Village Family Dentistry gives Cox a chance to start her career inside the family practice that first inspired her. It also gives patients another route back into care.
Her clinical training, community service and patient-first communication offer a practical example of how an established practice can pass responsibility to a new dentist without losing its human scale.
