Oral Medicine & Diagnostic Dentistry in Jacksonville, FL

Dentistry is not just about treating teeth — it’s about recognizing disease, identifying patterns, and understanding how oral health connects to the rest of the body. Oral medicine focuses on the diagnosis and management of complex oral conditions that extend beyond routine dental care.

At CJ Henley, DMD, oral medicine and thoughtful diagnosis are central to how we practice. Many patients come to us after symptoms have persisted, treatments haven’t helped, or answers have been difficult to find. Our role is to slow things down, evaluate the full picture, and determine what is actually happening before recommending care.

What Is Oral Medicine?

Oral medicine is a dental specialty focused on diagnosing and managing diseases of the mouth, jaw, salivary glands, and related structures — particularly when symptoms are chronic, unexplained, or medically complex.

This includes conditions that affect:

  • Oral soft tissues (tongue, cheeks, gums, palate)

  • Salivary function and dry mouth

  • Nerve-related oral pain

  • Autoimmune and inflammatory conditions

  • Oral manifestations of systemic disease

  • Cancer-related and post-treatment oral complications

Many oral medicine conditions do not show up clearly on routine exams. They require careful history-taking, clinical judgment, and targeted diagnostic tools.

When Oral Medicine Evaluation Is Important

An oral medicine–focused evaluation may be appropriate if you are experiencing:

Conditions such as burning mouth syndrome, oral lichen planus, chronic dry mouth, and neuropathic pain often overlap in symptoms and can be difficult to diagnose without a structured diagnostic approach.

Our Diagnostic Approach

Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective care. At our Jacksonville office, Dr. Henley uses a comprehensive, methodical process that may include:

  • Detailed medical and dental history review

  • Thorough soft-tissue and oral examination

  • Salivary flow assessment

  • Review of medications and systemic conditions

  • Laboratory testing when indicated

  • Evaluation for fungal, inflammatory, or autoimmune causes

  • Correlation with imaging and prior dental findings

This approach allows us to distinguish between conditions that may appear similar on the surface but require very different management strategies.

Experience With Complex and Medically Involved Patients

Dr. Henley’s background includes caring for patients with head and neck cancer, post-radiation oral complications, medication-related oral conditions, and medically complex histories.

This experience is particularly important when oral symptoms are related to:

When appropriate, we collaborate with physicians, oncologists, neurologists, and other specialists to ensure coordinated care.

Oral Medicine Is About Answers, Not Assumptions

Many patients seek oral medicine evaluation after months or years of frustration. Symptoms may have been dismissed, treated empirically, or attributed to stress without proper evaluation.

Our goal is not to rush to treatment, but to understand:

  • What is happening

  • Why it is happening

  • What options are appropriate — and what are not

In some cases, reassurance and monitoring are the right answer. In others, targeted medical or supportive therapy can significantly improve comfort and quality of life.

What to Expect at Your Visit

An oral medicine consultation focuses on listening, evaluating, and explaining. Patients can expect:

  • Time to discuss symptoms and concerns

  • A careful clinical examination

  • Clear discussion of findings and next steps

  • Honest guidance about diagnosis and management

If additional testing or referrals are needed, we will explain why and coordinate care appropriately.

Related Conditions We Commonly Evaluate

  • Burning mouth syndrome

  • Chronic dry mouth (xerostomia)

  • Oral lichen planus

  • Oral pain of neuropathic origin

  • Medication-related oral changes

  • Oral changes related to systemic disease

Because these conditions often overlap, diagnosis matters.

Schedule an Oral Medicine Evaluation

If you are experiencing persistent oral symptoms or have questions that haven’t been answered elsewhere, a focused diagnostic evaluation may help clarify what is going on and what options are available.

Call (904) 398-1549 or request an appointment online to schedule a consultation at our Jacksonville office.