Our Encinitas Dental Team

John is a native to San Diego. After graduating from The University of San Diego High School he went on to earn a Bachelors of Science from the University of California, at Berkeley. While at Berkeley, John competed for the Cal Rowing team and would graduate with honors before attending The University of the Pacific Dental School. He graduated with high honors and was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon and Phi Kappa Phi honors societies. After graduating, Dr. Koett worked as an associate in several San Diego County practices where he was exposed to several practice philosophies before taking over for Dr. John Coughlin in Encinitas. In this practice, Dr. Koett has been able to carry on an honest and conservative approach to treating patients. His dental practice and team share a patient-centered and comprehensive approach to maintaining patients’ oral health and continue to provide dental care to the highest standards.“I love what I do. Dentistry is the perfect blend of art and science for me. I thrive when I am challenged most and take great pride in educating patients on their oral health needs. The trust each patient places in me is taken very seriously and I take pride in every procedure I commence.”

Born and raised, 5th generation Californian. She attended Acalanes High School in Lafayette, California and received her bachelor’s degree at Middlebury College in Vermont in 2001. At Middlebury, Megan competed on the swim team earning All-NESCAC and All-American honors her senior year. In June 2005 Dr. Olson graduated as valedictorian from the University of Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco with high honors. She was inducted into the Tau Kappa Omega, Omicron Kappa Upsilon, and Phi Kappa Phi honors societies. After graduation, Dr. Olson joined her then fiancée Dr. John Koett at their practice in Encinitas. She has also maintained an associateship with her father Dr. James Olson at his dental practice in Berkeley, California.
For Dr. Olson, dentistry is about gaining and maintaining a trusting relationship between doctor and patient, and then providing a lifetime of quality care.

Dr. Small grew up locally in Encinitas and has always loved North County. He graduated from La Costa Canyon High School, and was recruited to play Division 1 lacrosse at Villanova University. Studying there he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. After graduation he began to pursue his passion for dentistry at Chapman University, in their pre-health professions program. He then followed in Dr. Koett and Dr. Olson’s footsteps and matriculated at their alma mater, the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni, School of Dentistry in San Francisco.
“I truly believe in building strong, trusting relationships with patients and I strive to provide the best possible care for their health and well-being. This is my home and I love this community. My goal is to help and educate patients about their oral health to improve their lives.”

Liz has had the privilege of being a part of this amazing team creating beautiful and healthy smiles since 2013. Born in Arizona, raised in San Diego county, she began her career as a registered dental assistant. Throughout the years she has been exposed to all areas of dentistry, working in Specialty Offices, Oral Surgery, Prosthodontics, Implants and Cosmetic General Dentistry. This broad knowledge of dental care along with her strong communication skills prompted her to confidently make the move to the front office. Now as a seasoned office administrator and manager, I take great pride in the professional and patient relationships I continue to build and respect. It’s an honor every day to serve our patients, our team, and especially to work alongside Dr. Koett and Dr. Olson. When she is not with her “dental family,” you will find her with her husband, beautiful daughter, and their adorable Shih Tzu named Bo. She also enjoys working her boutique clothing business and spending time with her fabulous friends.

Lauren has been working at the office for four years. She have been in the dental field for nine years and enjoys interacting with the local community. Her personal interests include traveling to new places with family and friends, along with hiking and exploring the San Diego coastline. Lauren finds gratification in welcoming and providing excellent service as patients visit the office. Lauren looks forward to meeting you!

Christy has been a practicing dental hygienist since 2006. After a short period of searching for the “right office” to work at, she discovered Dr. Koett and Dr. Olson’s practice and started working for them in 2007. She graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and recently completed an additional Alternative Practice licensure program. The aspect that she enjoys most about her career is the individual attention that the hygiene field allows her to have with her patients. Not only does Christy know the history of her patient’s teeth and oral hygiene concerns, but she also gets the opportunity to know them personally as well. When she is not at the office Christy is enjoying family time with her husband Chris and two little girls Cayla & Camden.

Erika has been employed at the office for two years now. She has enjoyed her career as a dental hygienist for over 20 years. Erika attended Indiana University, where she built the foundation for her expertise in dental hygiene.She has a passion for caring for her patients and ensuring their oral health is at its finest. Outside of work, Erika leads a busy life as the mother of two boys. In her free time she enjoys being outdoors, embracing activities like hiking, camping, and spending time at the beach. Her choice to enter the dental profession stems from her love of helping others. She finds joy in providing care that contributes to peoples overall well-being. She makes sure to prioritize precious moments with her family both in San Diego and back in Indiana.

Erin joined the practice in July of 2024. She has been in the dental field for 22 years, first as a dental assistant then later attended San Joaquin Valley College’s Dental Hygiene program and is currently working towards her Master’s Degree in Public Health. Outside of work she is a full time student. She enjoys live music, documentaries, and spending time with family and friends. Erin chose the dental profession because she liked the idea of helping others/ She also enjoys helping patients overcome their fear of dentistry. Erin is a firm believer in being organized/busy while also setting aside time for friends and work. She believes that you work hard during the week and then you can enjoy your time off.

Erica has been with the office since March of 2023. She received her Bachelors in Biology from UCLA in 1997. She then continued on to work as a dental assistant in general, pediatric, as well as an endodontic office. In 2003 she received her bachelors of dental hygiene from the University of Southern California. At UCLA, she was a track and field athlete, and now enjoys running for fun. She also studied Tiger Claw Kung Fu martial arts and has a second degree black belt. Her biggest passion in life is her family. She has two daughters that bring her so much joy and continue to keep her busy. She chose dental because it is fulfilling in that she gets to help people and she enjoys working with patients on prioritizing and customizing their periodontal care. She has found that balance is the key in this work force and is always a work in progress.

Taylor has been a dental hygienist now for 10 years, and has been with the practice since June of 2024. She received her Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology-Exercise Science in 2012. In 2014 she continued on to get her license in Dental Hygiene, and recently in 2019 received her license in Alternative Practice. Outside of work she is a mother to three little girls. She likes to go to the beach with her family in her free time. Prior to dental she had a passion in life for playing soccer. She also loves to stay active and try new things. A few reasons she chose the dental field is because she loves learning about health and how our bodies work, as well as building relationships with different people. Taylor always loved her dentist growing up and thought dental hygiene was a very unique part of healthcare. She truly loves her profession and finds it fun to keep up with new things and courses to better care for her patients. Currently, Taylor practices dental hygiene 2-3 days a week, so that she can spend the rest of her time taking care of her family.

Alicia was born and raised here in San Diego. Why leave? The weather is amazing! She has been married for 14 years and is a a proud mom to a 15 year-old son. He plays baseball, so yes she is a baseball mom! Her and her husband opened a brewery in downtown Oceanside next to the pier. He takes a care of the brewery while she takes care of teeth. Alicia has been assisting in dentistry for over 15 years. I has been in all types of offices, from general dentistry to perio and ortho. She got her first taste of dentistry in a practice right here in Encinitas. That’s when she fell in love with it 15 years ago. Her past time hobbies include traveling (anywhere tropical), snow boarding (powder with sunshine) and hanging with her family.

Cass has been in the office for about a year now. She went to Mission Hills High and graduated in 2015. She enjoys the outdoors, camping, hiking, snowboarding, and live music.

With 20 years of experience as a registered dental assistant and born and raised in Oceanside, Melissa has proudly served our community. She chose this career because she finds joy in making people smile and genuinely cares about her patients’ well-being. Outside of work, she loves spending time at the beach and indulging in crafts. As a mother of a teenage son, she balances her passion for dentistry with family life. Melissa’s compassionate nature is at the heart of her work, ensuring that each patient receives gentle and personalized care.

Our Fabulous Dental Team!