Dr. CJ Henley: Recognized as a Top Dentist in Jacksonville
Congratulations to both Dr. Henley and Dr. Kelly for being voted one of Jacksonville's Top Doctors, again!
Dr. CJ Henley has been named one of Jacksonville's Top Doctors by Jacksonville Magazine more than once, including in 2017, when this blog announced that he had been selected again. That recognition sits alongside his training, his professional leadership and the work patients can see for themselves, all described below.
What does a Top Doctors listing tell you?
A list like this is one piece of information about a dentist. It reflects one publication's selection process. It cannot tell you whether a particular treatment is right for you. That still comes from an examination, a clear explanation of your options and a plan you understand.
What do patients get from a dentist they can check?
I would rather patients judge my work by things they can see and ask about:
How the evaluation is done. New patients have a two-hour first visit, normally an hour with me and an hour in hygiene, so there is time to listen before planning anything.
How decisions are explained. You should hear what is known, what is uncertain, the reasonable alternatives and what each one costs to maintain over time.
The work itself. Our before and after gallery and case studies show treatment from this office, along with the planning decisions behind it.
Who is involved. I serve on the Head and Neck Tumor Board at Baptist MD Anderson and coordinate with physicians when a patient's medical care affects dental treatment.
Dr. Henley's training and professional service
Bachelor of Science in Integrative Biology and Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of Florida, with recognition in ethics and cosmetic dentistry.
Past President of the Northeast District Dental Association and a Delegate to the American Dental Association.
Faculty service in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Florida College of Dentistry.
Member of the American Academy of Oral Medicine and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Membership in an academy is not a specialty credential.
These details match the Meet Dr. Henley page.
From our 2017 announcement
In November 2017, the practice congratulated Dr. Henley and Dr. J. Craig Kelly, who practiced together at the time as Henley & Kelly, on being selected for Jacksonville's Top Doctors again. The announcement described a shared belief that technology supports good dentistry but does not replace diagnosis and clinical skill, and that the measure of dental work is how long it lasts rather than how quickly it is done. That is still how Dr. Henley practices.
At the time, Dr. Henley served as Secretary of the Northeast District Dental Association and as an Alternate Delegate to the Florida Dental Association. He has since served as the association's President.
Visit our Jacksonville office
Our office is at 3675 Hendricks Avenue, near San Marco. The practice is guided by general dentistry, with a focus on cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. New patients can start with our new-patient information, or call 904-398-1549.
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.
Sources
Jacksonville Magazine, Top Doctors.
Gum Disease Linked to Cancer Risk in Older Women
Postmenopausal women who have a history of gum disease also have a higher risk of cancer, according to a new study of more than 65,000 women.
In a large study of postmenopausal women, those who reported a history of gum disease were about 14% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer over the following years than women who did not. The link held among women who had never smoked. The study shows an association and can't prove that gum disease causes cancer, but it is one more reason to treat gum disease rather than ignore it.
What did the study look at?
Researchers at the University at Buffalo used data from the Women's Health Initiative, a long-term national study of postmenopausal women. They followed 65,869 women aged 54 to 86. Each woman answered a questionnaire between 1999 and 2003 about whether she had ever been told she had gum disease. Cancer diagnoses were confirmed by physician review, with follow-up through 2013. [1]
Over an average follow-up of about eight years, 7,149 cancers were diagnosed.
What did it find?
Overall cancer risk was about 14% higher in women who reported gum disease, after adjusting for age, smoking and other factors.
Among never-smokers, the increase was about 12%. That matters because smoking drives both gum disease and many cancers.
Specific cancers with a higher reported risk included esophageal, lung, gallbladder, breast and melanoma. The esophageal result was the largest, but it was based on a small number of cases. [1]
The study was the first of its size to look at gum disease and cancer in older US women. It was also the first to report a link with gallbladder cancer. [1]
What are the limits?
Gum disease was self-reported, not measured by a dentist. Some women would have misremembered or not known.
It is observational. It shows that two things occur together. Shared risk factors, such as diabetes, diet and access to health care, could explain part of the link.
The overall increase is modest. Most women with gum disease in the study did not develop cancer.
The authors called for more research to understand whether, and how, gum disease affects cancer risk. No study has yet shown that treating gum disease prevents cancer.
What should older women take from this?
Keep up the cancer screening your physician recommends.
Have your gums checked. Gum disease is often painless. Bleeding, recession, loose teeth or a change in your bite are worth an exam.
Mention changes in your health. Menopause, new medications, diabetes and dry mouth can all affect your gums.
Don't smoke. It raises the risk of gum disease and most of the cancers in this study.
Related research and where to get care
We cover the breast cancer finding in more detail in gum disease and breast cancer, and a separate Harvard study on gum disease and esophageal and stomach cancer. A comprehensive dental exam at our Jacksonville office includes a full gum evaluation. Contact us or call 904-398-1549 to schedule.
Sources
Nwizu NN, Marshall JR, Moysich K, et al. Periodontal disease and incident cancer risk among postmenopausal women: results from the Women's Health Initiative Observational Cohort. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2017;26(8):1255-1265. doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-17-0212 (retrieved via PubMed)
University at Buffalo. History of gum disease increases cancer risk in older women. News release, August 1, 2017, via ScienceDaily. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.