Dental Oncologist Returns Home to Brevard

Dr. Rob Brown and Dr. Chris Edwards are pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Haley Freymiller to the team of Smile Design and Wellness Center. Through all of her training, Dr. Freymiller, a Brevard County native, has seen the impact that the mouth has on a person’s health and quality of life, and she believes that everyone deserves to look and feel their best. She has dedicated herself to helping her patients achieve optimal oral health.

Freymiller received her DMD degree from the University of Florida. Following dental school, she completed a general practice residency at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry (OSU), where she was invited to stay a second year as chief resident. It was at OSU where she learned to safely treat patients who had complex medical conditions, as well as those with special needs.

After this, Dr. Freymiller completed a fellowship in dental oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where she learned how to take care of a patients’ dental needs prior to and after cancer treatments, and how to manage the many oral side effects caused by cancer treatments. Back at Ohio State, she set up the Dental Oncology Clinic, treating patients in all stages of cancer treatment.

Dr. Freymiller has extensive experience in treating cancer patients before, during and after treatment for cancer. Her training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center showed her the importance of having a healthy mouth in all phases of cancer treatment. Patients should have a thorough dental evaluation prior to treatment for cancer, and many oncologists are now requiring a dental examination and correction of dental problems prior to starting treatment.

Patients who have head and neck cancer are especially vulnerable to the effects that cancer can have on one's oral health. Following cancer treatment, many patients are more susceptible to oral diseases, particularly cavities and periodontal disease. There are many forward thinking strategies we can utilize to help patients through this difficult time and, into the future, to regain and maintain their oral health.

Besides her experience in helping patients with cancer, Dr. Freymiller has a keen interest in the oral-systemic connection. She is well versed in many of the scientific articles, often written by MDs, which show how much oral health impacts body health.

For example, it has been shown that when a patient has periodontal disease, bacteria enter the body, and this has numerous effects in many of the body’s organs and systems, which leads to or are a cofactor in many diseases. It is now estimated that more than 50% of the strokes and heart attacks in this country are related to oral bacteria, and many times are the causative agent.

Our mantra was formerly, “Only floss the teeth you want to keep.” Now we say, “Floss to keep healthy.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 321-751-7775 or visit SmileDesignCenter.us. Smile Design and Wellness Center, 5445 Village Drive, Suite 100, Viera, FL.

BIO:After practicing dentistry for five years in Honolulu and 20 years in Rhode Island, Dr. Chris Edwards moved to Brevard County in 2002 and opened the Smile Design Center in Viera. He is a consummate learner and as his knowledge base expanded, he changed the name to the Smile Design and Wellness Center in 2015. He was certified as a doctor of naturopathy in 2013 and is accredited by the IAOMT. Dr. Edwards has been a forward thinker with regard to technology to enable a higher level of service to his patients.

Read more articles in our DIGITAL MAGAZINE.