For referring physicians, surgeons & oncology teams / San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida
Physician referrals and dental clearance in Jacksonville.
Seen fast, treated before therapy starts, summarized for your team.
CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in San Marco, Jacksonville, with advanced training in oral medicine. Physicians, surgeons and oncology teams refer patients to him for dental clearance before surgery, a transplant, bone-modifying drugs or cancer therapy, including head and neck radiation. Referred patients are typically seen within 72 hours, and your team gets a written summary of what was found, what was treated and what is planned.
- 72 hrstypical time from referral to first visit
- 3 waysto refer: secure form, fax or the physician line
- Baptistaffiliated with Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville
- Everyreferred patient is seen by Dr. Henley himself
How to refer a patient
Refer a patient to a Jacksonville dentist in four steps.
Send the referral through our secure online form, by fax, or by calling the physician line. Our team contacts the patient to schedule, and most referred patients are seen within 72 hours. After the evaluation, the referring physician usually receives a written summary of the dental findings, treatment and recommendations within one to two days.
01 Send
Send the referral
Use the secure form, fax 904.212.4045, or call the physician line at 904.762.5616 for anything time-sensitive.
02 Schedule
We call your patient
Our team reaches out to schedule. Most referred patients are seen within 72 hours.
03 Treat
Evaluate and treat
Exam and imaging fit to the diagnosis and planned therapy, then treatment prioritized by risk before your start date.
04 Report
Written summary
You receive the findings, treatment completed or planned, and recommendations for your patient’s care.
Secure online referral
Send referral details and attach clinical notes, imaging or treatment plans through our secure online form. It is encrypted and HIPAA-compliant, and it opens in a new tab.
Phone, fax and address
- Physician-to-physician line: (904) 762-5616
- Fax: (904) 212-4045
- Main office: (904) 398-1549
- Office address: 3675 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Dental clearance letters
Dental clearance before surgery, a transplant or bone-modifying drugs.
A dental clearance is an exam to find and treat active dental infection before a procedure or therapy that raises the stakes of an infection. Dr. Henley examines the patient, treats what needs treating, and writes a dental clearance letter to the surgeon, physician or oncology team.
Every evaluation is tailored to the planned procedure. A patient preparing for head and neck radiation needs a different workup than a patient starting an antiresorptive agent or waiting on a new heart valve. The goal is the same in each case: find real sources of infection, treat them in time to heal, and avoid removing teeth that are not a risk.
- Heart valve surgery and joint replacement: evaluation and dental clearance before surgery, coordinated with the surgeon. Our page on dental clearance for medically complex patients explains what patients can expect.
- Organ or stem cell transplant: evaluation and treatment of active dental infection before immunosuppression, timed with the transplant team.
- Bisphosphonates and denosumab: a dental evaluation before the first dose when possible, with ongoing MRONJ risk assessment for patients already on therapy.
- Chemotherapy and head and neck radiation: see the oncology section below.
- Blood thinners and other medications: Dr. Henley routinely treats patients on anticoagulants and antiplatelet drugs and coordinates with the prescriber when a decision depends on them.
Patients with diabetes, heart conditions, transplants, early dementia or limited mobility are seen regularly in our office, which is wheelchair accessible. Our complex and medically involved care page covers these conditions in more depth for your patients.
Oncology referrals
Dental evaluation and treatment for patients with cancer.
Dr. Henley provides dental evaluation and treatment before, during and after cancer therapy, including head and neck radiation, chemotherapy, stem cell transplant and bone-modifying therapy for metastatic disease or multiple myeloma. We coordinate with the referring oncology team to address dental infection, plan care around cancer treatment and reduce the risk of oral complications.1
Head and neck radiation
- Pre-radiation dental evaluation and recommendations, including a comprehensive exam and radiographs when indicated. Patients can read about the dental exam before head and neck radiation before they come in.
- Assessment of teeth with a poor prognosis and extraction when indicated, with timing and healing coordinated with radiation oncology.2
- Prescription fluoride, with custom trays when indicated, and a prevention plan for radiation-related tooth decay. See fluoride trays and radiation caries.
- Monitoring and supportive dental care during treatment.
Chemotherapy and stem cell transplant
- Evaluation and treatment of active dental infection before immunosuppression.
- Timing of dental procedures coordinated with the oncology team around treatment cycles and blood counts.
- Supportive care for oral mucositis and dry mouth during treatment.4
Survivorship after head and neck radiation
- Long-term prevention and management of radiation caries.
- Xerostomia management.
- Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) risk assessment, particularly before extractions or other procedures involving irradiated jawbone.2
- Care for radiation-induced trismus and complex restorative care after cancer treatment.
Screening and surgical coordination
- Ongoing oral cancer screening and evaluation of new mucosal lesions, with in-office biopsy or referral.
- Planning a maxillectomy? See how we coordinate maxillectomy and palatal obturators, from planning with the surgeon to fitting in the OR at Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville.
- Dr. Henley serves on the Head & Neck Tumor Board at Baptist MD Anderson.
Patients traveling to Jacksonville for cancer treatment can be seen here between appointments. Our page on dental care for patients coming to Jacksonville for cancer treatment explains how that works, and the patient pillar on dental care before, during and after head and neck cancer treatment covers the whole course of care.
Bone-modifying agents
MRONJ risk review before bisphosphonates or denosumab.
For patients with bone metastases or multiple myeloma starting antiresorptive therapy, a dental evaluation before the first dose helps identify and treat sources of infection and reduce the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ).3 We also see patients already on therapy for ongoing MRONJ risk assessment.
- Before the first dose, when possible: dental evaluation and treatment of infection sources while the risk is lowest.
- Already on therapy: routine care continues; extractions and implants get a risk review first, and we talk with the prescriber about the plan.
- Osteoporosis doses: patients on Prolia, Fosamax or Reclast for osteoporosis can read osteoporosis medications and dental health.
- No changes to bone therapy on our own: any change to the medication stays with the prescribing physician.
The AAOMS 2022 position paper is the reference we work from for MRONJ staging and risk.3
How the evaluation works
From referral to written summary.
The exam and imaging are based on the diagnosis, treatment site and planned therapy. Dr. Henley works to complete all necessary dental treatment before the scheduled start date, and the referring team gets a written summary.
Referral received
Our team contacts the patient to schedule. Most patients are seen within 72 hours.
Evaluation
The exam and imaging are based on the cancer type or procedure, treatment site and planned therapy, starting with a comprehensive exam.
Treatment before therapy begins
Dr. Henley works to complete all necessary dental treatment before the scheduled start date. When the timeline does not allow everything to be finished, treatment is prioritized by risk and the plan is shared with the referring team.
Written summary to your team
Usually within one to two days of the visit, you receive our findings, treatment completed or planned, and recommendations relevant to the patient’s therapy.
Follow-up
We continue care during treatment and through long-term survivorship.
Please include with the referral
What to send with a dental referral.
The planned start date matters most. With it, we can schedule and sequence treatment so extraction sites have time to heal before radiation, surgery or immunosuppression.
- Diagnosis and primary site
- Planned treatment and anticipated start dates
- Radiation fields, if known
- Current and planned medications, including antiresorptive agents
- Contact information for the coordinating clinician
For time-sensitive referrals, call the physician line at (904) 762-5616 so our team can coordinate scheduling with you.
Patient handouts you can share
Plain-language pages for your patients.
These pages are written for patients to read before or during treatment. Share the link that fits, or send the patient to this list.
If a patient notices a new spot in the mouth, the Mouth Spot Checker helps them describe it and tells them how soon to call. Physicians who want to know more about Dr. Henley can read his published articles or see him in the news, including a palatal obturator case.
A referral dentist near your practice
Dental clearance in San Marco, Jacksonville.
Our office on Hendricks Avenue sits just south of Downtown and the Southbank, a short drive from Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville and Baptist MD Anderson. Referred patients come from across Northeast Florida: San Marco, Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, San Jose, Mandarin, Southside and Baymeadows, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra and Nocatee, Orange Park and Fleming Island, and St. Augustine. Many travel to Jacksonville from other parts of Florida and other states for cancer care.
Dr. CJ Henley sees every patient himself. He is a general dentist with advanced training in oral medicine, and his practice includes oral medicine and diagnosis, restorative care, and dental care around head and neck cancer. Read more on Meet the Doctor, see what patients say in our reviews, or learn about our San Marco dental office.
Questions from referring teams
Physician referral and dental clearance questions.
How quickly will my patient be seen?
We aim to see referred patients within 72 hours of receiving the referral. Please include the planned treatment start date. For time-sensitive referrals, call the physician line at 904.762.5616 so our team can coordinate scheduling with you.
What is a dental clearance letter?
It is a written summary from the dentist to the surgeon, physician or oncology team after a dental exam. It states what was found, what infection was treated, what is still planned, and any recommendations for timing. Dr. Henley writes these after the evaluation for surgery, transplant, cancer therapy and bone-modifying drugs, and the letter usually goes to the referring team within one to two days of the visit.
Do you provide dental clearance before heart valve surgery, a joint replacement or a transplant?
Yes. Dr. Henley evaluates the patient, treats active infection, and writes to the surgical or transplant team. Patients can read about dental clearance on our medically complex dental care page before the visit. Schedule as soon as the procedure is planned, because any extraction needs time to heal first.
What if radiation or chemotherapy is already scheduled to start soon?
Dr. Henley works to complete all needed dental treatment before the scheduled start date. When the timeline does not allow everything to be finished, treatment is prioritized by risk and the plan is communicated to the referring team so they can make informed decisions about timing.
What will I receive after the evaluation?
A written summary of the dental findings, treatment completed or planned, and any recommendations relevant to the patient’s cancer therapy or procedure.
Do you see patients starting bisphosphonates or denosumab?
Yes. For patients with bone metastases or multiple myeloma starting antiresorptive therapy, a dental evaluation before the first dose helps identify and treat sources of infection and reduce the risk of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). We also see patients already on therapy for ongoing MRONJ risk assessment.
Do you provide long-term care after head and neck radiation?
Yes. When radiation affects the salivary glands or jawbone, the risk of dental decay and osteoradionecrosis can persist long term. Risk depends on the treatment field, radiation dose, and individual dental and medical factors. Dr. Henley provides ongoing preventive care, fluoride therapy, xerostomia management, and restorative treatment, with ORN risk assessment before invasive treatment involving irradiated jawbone.
Do you bill medical insurance for these evaluations?
No. The practice does not bill medical insurance. Our team reviews costs and any dental benefits directly with each patient before treatment. We are an out-of-network practice and can help patients understand how to use their dental benefits.
Since 2023, Medicare can pay for some dental care that is closely tied to covered medical treatment, such as the dental exam and treatment needed before an organ transplant, a heart valve replacement or head and neck cancer treatment. The dental office generally has to bill Medicare for that coverage, and our practice does not bill Medicare or other medical insurance. Patients who want to use that benefit should ask their medical team or Medicare which dental providers can bill it.
Can a patient call you directly without a referral?
Yes. Patients can call our office at 904.398.1549 to schedule. Asking them to bring their diagnosis, planned treatment dates and medication list, or having your office send the referral, helps us plan the visit around their therapy.
Where is your office for dental clearance in Jacksonville?
CJ Henley, DMD, PA is at 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207, in San Marco, a short drive from Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville. Send a secure referral online, fax 904.212.4045, or call the physician line at 904.762.5616.
Are you a patient? See dental care before and after cancer treatment · Dental care before and during cancer treatment
Refer a patient
Send a referral today.
Use the secure form for anything with attachments, call the physician line when the start date is close, or fax the referral to (904) 212-4045. If a patient has swelling, pain or a broken tooth before therapy, our emergency dental care page explains same-day visits.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA3675 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Main office: 904.398.1549. Please don’t send protected health information by ordinary email or text; use the secure form or fax.
Related pages
Sources
- National Cancer Institute. Oral Complications of Cancer Therapies (PDQ®), Health Professional Version. Dental assessment, infection prevention, supportive care, and long-term follow-up.
- Peterson DE, et al. Prevention and Management of Osteoradionecrosis: ISOO-MASCC-ASCO Guideline. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2024;42:1975–1996. doi:10.1200/JCO.23.02750.
- Ruggiero SL, et al. AAOMS Position Paper on Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws: 2022 Update. Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2022;80:920–943.
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Cancer Treatments & Oral Health. Patient guidance on dental evaluation, fluoride, and oral side effects.