RICHMOND, Ind. – West Main Family Dental has a new dentist leading the practice.

Dr. Allison Mopps bought the practice in December 2025. Previously owned by Dr. Jill Burns, she decided it was time to take a step back after more than 20 years of serving the community.

That decision opened the door for Mopps to take on a stronger role.

“She still wants to work a little bit, but she wanted to be able to back up and not have to deal with the business aspect,” Mopps said.

Dr. Burns continues international dental service work.

For Dr. Mopps, the vision of having a practice came a little quicker than expected. Right now, she is still getting into the groove of learning the ins and outs of the business, especially in terms of insurance and pay.

A Richmond native, Mopps originally thought she’d go to school to become a veterinarian because of her love for animals. Mopps attended Purdue University for her undergrad, where she worked at a vet clinic. After working the emergency hours, she soon decided it wasn’t the right fit due to its emotional impact.  

“My mom is actually a hygienist who works here with me. And she said, ‘well I think you should look into dentistry,’ and she was right,” Mopps said. “I like the creative aspect of it.”

She also enjoys the process of designing crowns and veneers on a computer and then using milling technology to produce them, within the same day.

After completing her undergrad at Purdue, she went on to A.T. Still University in Missouri for dental school. The small class size, with only 42 students, made it feel personalized.

"It was easy to get the help you needed," she said.

Mopps said she was drawn to dentistry because of the creative aspect and the ability to work with her hands.

“It’s an instant gratification thing. So, you walk in and you walk out with your new smile,” Mopps said.

After dental school, she spent two years working in St. Louis, gaining hands-on experience at a community health center serving Medicaid and Medicare patients. That experience reinforced her passion for dentistry, especially helping educate people on oral health and why dental hygiene is vital to overall well-being.

“It’s hard to do something when you don’t know what to do and you don’t think about how much your oral health affects everything,” she said. “It affects how you eat, how you talk, how you feel confidence-wise about yourself, it really plays into your whole life.”

Mopps graduated in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, and briefly worked at Aspen Dental before joining West Main Family Dentistry in 2022. She started working a couple days a week and has since transitioned into being at the practice full time. 

Now, as the practice continues under her name, Mopps’ main goal is to make the experience more comfortable for patients.

“We’re kind of brainstorming different ideas to try to get people more excited about coming to the dentist, because I know it’s no one’s favorite place to be,” she said.

Mopps said she and her team are looking into expanding services like Invisalign and making the office more homey and welcoming. Small improvements, such as creating a break room and making the space feel more open, are part of the plan.

When asked if she ever saw herself buying a practice, Mopps said the idea used to feel intimidating. But after six years of experience and growing confidence, she said she felt ready.

"I wasn't nearly as scared of it as I was six years ago," she said. "Luckily, I have a great staff who've made it really easy.

Her main message to the community is that oral health matters. She wants people to know that dental care can prevent larger health issues and improve life.

"I really want to try to keep that from happening," she said. "Whether it's through educating people when they come in or making it more open so we can get people the help they need."