We are especially interested in making all our patients feel right at home! We put your needs first to achieve efficient and comprehensive treatment. Our staff is trained and skilled, and we strive to provide energetic and fun-loving service to each patient. Our treatment team is comprised of Registered Dental Hygienists and Certified Dental Assistants, and our office staff has years of experience in treating patients with the highest level of care. We strive to stay abreast of the latest in technological advances by regularly attending continuing education courses and seminars. Our team also attends training courses for chairside assisting, OSHA safety regulations, and CDC infection control guidelines.
Laurie Duchaine, RDH
Dental Hygienist
Laurie Duchaine is a native of Oxford, Mississippi. She is married to David Duchaine, retired Deputy Chief of the Oxford Fire Department. They have two children. Lucian is a junior at the United States Naval Academy, and Cope is a junior at Oxford High School. Laurie attended Ole Miss and Northeast Mississippi Community College, where she received a degree in Dental Hygiene. She has been practicing for 30 years. She enjoys her patients and considers them to be her longtime friends. Laurie enjoys family, travel, soccer games, and flea markets!
Karen Meeks, RDH
Dental Hygienist
Karen Meeks attained her Dental Hygiene degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College in 1995 and has almost 20 years of experience. Karen has worked with Dr. Jason Farese since 2003 when they were employed in dental public health in Ashland, Mississippi. She continued to work there with Dr. Lea Farese until she joined the doctors in their private practice in Oxford in 2005. Karen enjoys providing the best care possible to her patients in a relaxing atmosphere. She resides in Ripley, Mississippi with her husband and daughter. Karen enjoys camping, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Bernadette Mistilis, CDA
Dental Assistant
Bernadette Mistilis is a National Board Certified Dental Assistant. She graduated from Normandy Senior High School in Parma, Ohio in 1973, with a major in Dental Assisting. In 1978, Bernadette graduated from the University of North Carolina School of Dentistry and successfully completed the National Dental Assistants Board Examination. Bernadette believes strongly in staying informed of advancements in the field of dentistry and regularly attends continuing education seminars. She has over 40 years of experience as a Certified Dental Assistant. Bernadette enjoys learning and works hard to maintain a high level of dental knowledge. She provides excellent care to all her patients and is committed to assisting the dentist in the most proficient and professional manner. Bernadette believes a healthy smile is the universal language that says it all! She is married to Dr. Ben Mistilis (PhD. Psychology), and they reside in Oxford. Bernadette has two grown children, Sarah Reilly and her husband, Trey, and son, James IV, live in Oviedo, Florida. Sarah is a Texas A&M graduate and a high school counselor. Jeffery Neimeyer is a 2006 graduate of Ole Miss. He and his wife, Jenn, are graduates with Master’s degrees in Divinity and Theology from the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. They are currently living in Istanbul, Turkey with their three sons, Seth, Micaiah, and Abraham.
Michelle Sharp
Dental Assistant
Michelle Sharp is a native of Water Valley, Mississippi. She received a degree from Northwest Mississippi Community College in Child Development Technology. Michelle has spent most of her time raising two children. Tyler Sharp is a senior at Lafayette High School and Courtney Sharp is a junior at Ole Miss. While family is a big part of her life, Michelle has worked as a teacher's assistant at Lafayette Elementary for several years. She started working as a dental assistant in the summers for Farese Family Dental, but is now a full-time assistant. Michelle enjoys family, church, softball, football, and Zumba!
Teresa Faust, CDA
Business Administrator
Teresa Faust is a native of Meridian, Mississippi. She graduated from Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo, Iowa, in 2005 with a certification in Dental Assisting and has a National Board Certification. She is a 2009 graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Promotion. Teresa lives in Oxford with her son, Cruz. She enjoys family, traveling and photography.
Teresa Cox
Financial Treatment Plan Coordinator
Teresa Cox has been in the dental field since 2001 and became part of our staff in July of 2012. She and her husband Stoney live near Oxford. Their son Jacob is attending Ole Miss. They enjoy being REBEL fans!
Vivian Smith
Administrative Assistant
Vivian Smith is a native of Memphis, Tennessee. She attended Rhodes College and then graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in Spanish Education and a second certification in elementary education. She taught school for 12 years, and then managed a large law firm for 19 years. In September of 2004, she gladly joined Farese Family Dental at the request of her son Jason. She works in the front office and enjoys the interaction with staff and patients. Vivian is married to Eugene Smith, has a wonderful family, and is a very content grandmother.
Angela Fresco
Hygiene Coordinator
Angela Fresco grew up in Bristol, Virginia. She recently graduated from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree. Angela has been a part of the Farese Family Dental team since 2009.