We are excited to introduce you to our amazing dental team, whose passion is helping you achieve a healthy smile in a warm and friendly environment.
Individualized Care and Attention
At Fontenot Family Dentistry, we believe you deserve personalized care and attention. We love getting to know each of our wonderful patients, learning what matters to them, and developing personalized treatment plans to meet their needs.
It’s common to feel stressed or anxious when visiting the dentist, but we are dedicated to putting you at ease so you have a comfortable appointment. We’re proud of our warm and welcoming environment, where you can relax and trust that you are in great hands.
Stress-Free, Efficient Appointments
Our commitment to teamwork ensures seamless communication and coordination for a stress-free, efficient appointment. From the moment you walk through our doors, we work together to ensure a positive experience.
Dentistry is continuously advancing and improving, and our team members are committed to staying current with the latest techniques and technologies. We routinely participate in ongoing training and education to ensure the highest level of care for our patients.
Meet Our Team Members
We invite you to take a few minutes to read through our team bios and learn more about our commitment to your oral health. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment. We look forward to meeting you soon!
Dr. Ian M. Fontenot, DDS
Born and raised in Ville Platte, Dr. Ian Fontenot has strong roots in the Acadiana area. At a young age, his parents taught him the importance of customer and patient care. With Dr. Fontenot's mother as a registered nurse and his father an established family dentist in Ville Platte, he learned early on to take pride in caring for patients.
He graduated from LSU Alexandria manga cum laude with a Bachelor of Biological Sciences and later furthered his education, receiving a Doctorate of Dental Surgery from LSU Health Science Center in New Orleans. Dr. Fontenot graduated top of his class at LSU with many prestigious awards, including the following: C. Edmund Kells, OKU Dental Honor Society, Academy of General Dentistry Senior Award, Academy of Operative Dentistry Senior Award, International Congress of Oral Implantologists Senior Award, American Academy of Periodontology Senior Award, and American Academy Implant Dentistry Senior Award.
After dental school, he accepted and completed a General Dentistry Residency at the University of Florida College of Dentistry in Jacksonville, Florida. At the University of Florida, he learned all the disciplines in-depth, with a special emphasis on full mouth reconstruction and surgery utilizing dental implants, crowns, veneers, and removable prosthetics.
Since completing his residency, Dr. Fontenot has done more than 500 hours of continuing dental education in orthodontics (certified provider of Six Month Smiles and Invisalign), bone grafts, dental implants (certified provider of Nobel Biocare), sedation dentistry, nitrous oxide, oral sedation, practice management, rotary endodontics, gum grafts, cosmetic dentistry, and pediatrics. He has a strong desire to learn from the best teachers across the country and use the latest technology to provide the highest quality patient care.
Dr. Fontenot worked at his father's dental practice in Ville Platte and multiple health centers throughout Acadiana for the past few years. From this experience, he increased his scope of practice to pediatrics, allowing him to treat adults and children in his current practice.
Dr. Fontenot has been married to his high-school sweetheart for almost 10 years. They have one beautiful little girl, Lilah Kate Fontenot, and a son, Liam Paul. His wife is a teacher at a local Catholic school, St. Leo-Seton. Dr. Fontenot lives with his family in Carencro, and they love it! He enjoys exercising, movies, music, and hanging out with friends and family.
Professional Affiliations:
- American Dental Association
- Louisiana Dental Association
- Academy of General Dentistry
- Acadiana Southern Society
- American Academy of Implant Dentistry
- Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation
Locations for Dr. Ian M. Fontenot, DDS
- Fontenot Family Dentistry- Carencro
- Fontenot Family Dentistry- Scott
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
Dr Akia Davis
DDS
Dr. Akia Davis is thrilled to be in the Acadiana area serving patients and helping them maintain lasting smiles. She believes the best way to do that is to form lasting relationships with her patients by changing the current narrative of what it means to go to the dentist. In Dr. Davis’ chair, you can expect a provider that greets you with a smile and warm spirit. Dr. Davis is a firm believer in showing her patients empathy and compassion through open communication with a calming bedside manner.You can also expect a provider who cares about not only your dental health, but your overall health. Being that our mouth is our primary connection between our external environment and the rest of our body, having a healthy smile is essential to having a healthy life.
While she is not exactly native to Louisiana, Dr. Davis has roots all over as her parents were sergeants in the United States Army. This allowed her to be exposed to many different regions and people which helped foster her communication skills and ability to work with individuals from various backgrounds. After retiring from the military, her family settled in Slidell, LA where she attended high school. It was in high school that Dr. Davis first became interested in a career in dentistry. After being assigned to study a career that would interest her after graduation, she realized she had an upcoming dental appointment. This sparked her curiosity for dentistry and she decided it would be the topic of her project. She fully immersed herself into the topic and began shadowing her own dentist and mentor. She knew that she wanted a career in which she could help and educate others and after completing additional research, she knew that dentistry was the career for her.
A big supporter of education, Dr. Davis developed a fascination with wanting to understand how people learn and went on to study Biology at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, with a minor in Secondary Education. While at LSU, she made sure to participate in various community outreach and made the Dean’s List as well as other accomplishments. Prior to pursuing her dental degree, she decided to put her minor to use and taught 7th and 8th grade science in Baton Rouge for two years.
Although she enjoyed teaching bright young minds to learn, she knew she wanted to continue her education in the dental field and connect education with dentistry. She moved to New Orleans and pursued her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at LSU School of Dentistry, graduating in the top half of her class with Honors in Teaching as well receiving accolades for her devotion to dental education in Pediatric Dentistry which stems from her roots as a teacher.
Dr. Davis prides herself on staying up to date with treatment modalities and research in order to educate her patients on the importance of a healthy smile. Her life experiences have prepared her to provide dental care to patients of all ages and backgrounds. She looks forward to creating happy, lasting smiles through a positive attitude, a cheerful countenance and exceptional patient care.
Obviously, a die hard LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints fan, Dr. Davis is proud to call Louisiana home. When she is not making her patients smile in the office, she enjoys reading, cooking and traveling with her life partner and better half, Jay. In addition, she always makes time to brush the teeth of her two Yorkies, Harper and Bradley!
Dr. Davis is proud to join Fontenot Family Dentistry and keep Acadiana smiling!
Locations for Dr Akia Davis
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
Dr. Neil Oza, DDS
Dr. Neil Oza is a dedicated and compassionate dentist committed to providing high-quality, patient-centered care who has been practicing for 23 years. With a strong foundation in modern dentistry and a focus on preventative and restorative treatments, Dr. Oza strives to help patients achieve and maintain healthy, confident smiles.
He is a native of Baton Rouge. In Baton Rouge, he was heavily involved with the Greater Baton Rouge Dental Association serving as the treasurer for three consecutive years. Dr. Oza owned a practice in Baton Rouge as well as one in Hammond, LA prior to coming onboard to Fontenot Family Dentistry. As an adjunct to dentistry, he owned two dental assisting schools, one in Prairieville and one in Hammond, where he managed and taught courses to dental assisting students.
Known for a gentle approach and clear communication, Dr. Oza takes the time to understand each patient’s unique needs and concerns, creating personalized treatment plans in a comfortable and welcoming environment. He stays current with the latest advancements in dental technology and techniques to ensure efficient, effective care. He is trained in dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and Invisalign.
Dr. Oza is passionate about building long-term relationships with patients and promoting oral health education, empowering individuals and families to take an active role in their dental wellness. Outside the office, he enjoys staying active by playing tennis, going to concerts, playing the guitar and drums, and continuing his professional development.
Locations for Dr. Neil Oza, DDS
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
McKenzie
Regional Manager
McKenzie has been in the dental field since 2005, where she began her career in pediatrics but quickly moved to general dentistry. She began working at Fontenot Family Dentistry since 2015. She is Edda, ACLS, X-Ray, and CPR certified. As our office manager for over 6 years, McKenzie oversees all three locations and helps them to run smoothly and efficiently! When she’s not busy at work, McKenzie enjoys working out and spending time with her family!
Locations for McKenzie
- Fontenot Family Dentistry- Carencro
- Fontenot Family Dentistry- Scott
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
Tyra
Lead Dental Assistant
Locations for Tyra
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
Angela
Hygienist
Angela joined Fontenot Family Dentistry in January 2025. With 28 years of experience, she graduated from LSU School of Dentistry in New Orleans in 1998. Angela
leads her practice with encouragement and compassion. Her goal is to provide each patient with oral care customized to meet their needs while making them feel safe and comfortable. In her free time, Angela enjoys travel as well as spending quality time with her family. She loves her job, team and patients and feels so blessed to be a part of Fontenot Family Dentistry and to provide her patients with the best care that they deserve.
Locations for Angela
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
Josie
When she’s not running a smooth operation at the office, she’s busy at home as a devoted wife and mother to two beautiful children, embracing the beautiful chaos that comes with it. A lover of all things makeup and the outdoors, she’s just as comfortable perfecting a look as she is soaking up fresh air and sunshine.
Known for her compassionate and friendly nature, she has a gift for making people feel at ease—often with a well-timed joke or a warm smile. She believes professionalism doesn’t have to be stiff, and that laughter is sometimes the best medicine (right after good dental care, of course).
Locations for Josie
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
Caroline
Caroline Lipari’s passion for dental hygiene began at a young age, inspired by her desire to help others feel confident in their smiles. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge before going on to graduate as a member of the first cohort of the LSU Health Sciences Center Dental Hygiene Program in Alexandria. During her time in the program, she was honored with the Colgate STAR Award for her outstanding clinical skills and dedication to patient care.
Caroline is committed to helping patients achieve their dream smiles by providing gentle, personalized care in a comfortable and welcoming environment. She values building trust with her patients and takes pride in educating them on the importance of oral health and overall wellness. Known for her kind, compassionate, and caring nature, she strives to make every visit a positive experience.
Outside of work, Caroline enjoys reading, going on long walks, spending time with family and friends, and shopping.
Locations for Caroline
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
Carly
Dental Assistant
Carly Garrett is an aspiring dental professional who earned her GED in 2025 and immediately began pursuing her education in the dental field. During her clinical training, she secured her first position at Fontenot Family Dentistry, where she continues to gain hands-on experience and develop her skills.
Now nearly six months into her dental career, Carly is dedicated to growing within the profession and providing quality care to patients.
Outside of her work, Carly is a proud mother of four and is engaged. She values spending quality time with her family and enjoys shopping in her free time.
Locations for Carly
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette
Nina
Front Office
With a career in dentistry spanning back to 1988, Nina Angona brings decades of experience, dedication, and adaptability to her profession. She began her journey working chairside in a clinical setting and successfully transitioned to the front office seven years ago, where her organizational skills and patient-focused approach continue to shine.
Outside of her professional life, Nina has a deep love for animals, especially through her involvement in cat rescue. She finds joy in caring for others—whether they have two legs or four—and has a natural compassion that carries into all areas of her life.
Nina thrives outdoors, especially in her garden, where she enjoys planting and nurturing flowers.
Family is at the heart of everything she does. Nina is very family-oriented and cherishes quality time with her loved ones. Her personality is a unique blend—she can be both funny and quiet, depending on the moment. Known for being highly organized, detail-oriented, and a true Type A personality, she takes pride in maintaining structure and balance in both her personal and professional life.
Locations for Nina
- Fontenot Family Dentistry - Lafayette