Dental Patient Resources from a Top-Rated Jacksonville Dentist

Mouth sores, spots, bumps & tongue changes

Most mouth sores and spots heal on their own within two weeks. Anything that lasts longer should be examined. Our Oral Conditions Library covers more than 40 conditions with photos, home care and clear advice on when to have it checked.

Not sure what you’re looking at? Use the Mouth Spot Checker →

• Oral Conditions Library

  Mouth sores, white patches, bumps and tongue changes, sorted by what you're seeing.

• Mouth Spot Checker Interactive

  Tap where a sore, bump or patch is and what it looks like to see likely causes and how soon to get it checked.

• Canker sores

  Why they happen, how to make them heal faster, and when one needs a look.

• Cold sores (fever blisters)

  How to get rid of a cold sore fast and how it differs from a canker sore.

• Mouth ulcers

  Common causes of mouth sores and ulcers that keep coming back.

• Oral thrush

  White patches that wipe off, in babies, adults and denture wearers.

• White tongue

  Why your tongue is white and what clears it up.

• Geographic tongue

  Map-like patches on the tongue: harmless, but sometimes sore.

• Leukoplakia

  White patches that don't wipe off, and why a biopsy matters.

• Bad breath (halitosis)

  Where bad breath really comes from and how to stop it.

• Tonsil stones

  What they are, how to remove them safely, and how to prevent them.

• Mucocele

  A clear or bluish bump inside the lip and what to do about it.

• Tori and bumps on the roof of the mouth

  Hard bony growths, other bumps on the palate, and red flags.

• Hand, foot and mouth disease

  Mouth sores in kids and adults, how long it's contagious, and comfort care.

• Signs of oral cancer

  What mouth cancer looks like and how to check your own mouth.

• Mouth signs of autoimmune & systemic disease

  Lupus, Sjögren's, Crohn's, celiac, diabetes, HIV and more.

Toothaches, tooth pain & dental emergencies

A toothache usually means something has changed: a cavity, a crack, an infection or a worn filling. We see emergency patients the same day during office hours, including new patients. Please call first.

• Emergency dental care in Jacksonville

  Broken teeth, swelling, lost crowns and knocked-out teeth: what to do and when to call.

• Cracked, chipped or broken tooth

  Signs of a cracked tooth, what to do after a chip, and how each kind of break is repaired.

• Top 6 reasons your tooth hurts

  The usual causes of tooth pain, from sensitivity to a cracked tooth.

• Tooth abscess and tooth infection

  Symptoms, why antibiotics alone don't fix it, and warning signs that need the ER.

• Cavity pain

  What a cavity feels like and why the pain can come and go.

• Tooth pain after a filling

  What's normal after a new filling and when it needs another look.

• Tooth sensitivity: 10 common causes

  Why teeth hurt with cold, sweets or brushing, and what helps.

• Foods to avoid with sensitive teeth

  Everyday foods and drinks that set off sensitive teeth.

• Sinus infection or toothache?

  How sinus pressure can feel like upper tooth pain.

• Dry socket

  Pain a few days after an extraction: what it looks like and how we treat it.

• Pericoronitis (sore gum over a wisdom tooth)

  Swelling and pain around a partly erupted wisdom tooth.

• Dental numbness

  How long numbness lasts after a dental visit and when to call.

Gums, grinding, jaw pain & sleep

• Gingivitis, bleeding and swollen gums

  Early gum disease is reversible. Here's how to turn it around.

• Gum disease (periodontitis)

  Receding gums, bone loss and loose teeth, and how deep cleanings help.

• Dental cleanings

  What happens at a cleaning and how often you need one.

• Teeth grinding (bruxism)

  Signs you grind at night and how a custom night guard protects your teeth.

• TMJ and jaw pain

  Clicking, locking and sore jaw muscles, and the treatments that help.

• Snoring and sleep apnea oral appliances

  Custom oral appliances, coordinated with your physician.

Your health, medications & your mouth

Medications and medical conditions show up in the mouth more often than most people realize. We work with your physicians so your dental care fits your health.

• Complex & medically involved dental care

  Blood thinners, heart conditions, transplants, diabetes and more.

• Dry mouth (xerostomia)

  Why it happens, why it raises your cavity risk, and what helps.

• Burning mouth syndrome

  A burning tongue or mouth with no visible cause.

• Oral lichen planus

  Lacy white lines and sore gums, and how they're managed long term.

• Osteoporosis medications and dental work

  Prolia, bisphosphonates and what to tell your dentist before an extraction.

• GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy) and your teeth

  Dry mouth, reflux and other dental side effects.

• Diabetes and your mouth

  Gum disease, dry mouth and slow healing.

• Acid reflux and tooth erosion

  How GERD wears down enamel and how to protect your teeth.

• Dental care during pregnancy

  Which treatment is safe, pregnancy gingivitis, and when to come in.

• Stress, anxiety and dental health

  Grinding, canker sores and other ways stress affects your mouth.

Oral cancer screening & dental care during cancer treatment

Dr. Henley serves on the Head & Neck Tumor Board at Baptist MD Anderson and cares for patients before, during and after radiation and chemotherapy.

• Oral cancer screening

  Part of every exam we do, and what happens if we find something.

• Head & neck cancer oral care

  Protecting your teeth and jaw through cancer treatment.

• Dental exam before radiation

  Why a dental clearance before radiation therapy matters.

• Dental care during chemotherapy

  Keeping your mouth healthy while your immune system is down.

• Oral mucositis

  Mouth sores from chemo and radiation, and how to ease them.

• Fluoride trays and radiation cavities

  Daily fluoride trays that protect teeth after head and neck radiation.

• Osteoradionecrosis

  Jaw bone problems after radiation, and how to lower your risk.

• Radiation-induced trismus

  Limited jaw opening after radiation and exercises that help.

• Maxillectomy & prosthetic obturation

  Obturators that restore speech and eating after upper jaw surgery.

• For physicians: referring a patient

  How to send us a patient for a dental clearance or consult.

Cosmetic Dentistry Guide: veneers, bonding & materials

Straight answers about veneers, bonding and the materials behind them, with every number linked to the study it came from. Start at the Cosmetic Dentistry Guide, or jump to a question.

• Who should not get veneers?

  What disqualifies you, why some dentists say no, and what is only “not yet.”

• What kind of dentist is best for veneers?

  General dentist or prosthodontist, questions to ask, red flags, and what a full set costs.

• How long do veneers last?

  What 20 years of research shows, and what shortens a veneer’s life.

• Why veneer lifespan numbers disagree

  Why studies report anywhere from 53 to 99 percent, and how to read a claim.

• Porcelain vs composite veneers

  Lifespan, repairs, staining and cost per year of service, side by side.

• Veneers vs bonding

  Which one fits a chip, a gap, black triangles, stains or worn teeth.

• What happens to teeth under veneers?

  Enamel, decay, gums and nerves, and whether you can ever go back.

• How much tooth is removed for veneers?

  The research on veneer vs crown preparation, and no-prep veneers.

• Crown & veneer materials compared

  e.max, zirconia, porcelain, composite, PFM and gold, with study numbers.

• How the guide checks its sources

  The full study list and how each number is verified.

Dental treatments explained

Knowing why a treatment is recommended makes the decision easier. These pages explain what each procedure involves, how long it takes and what to expect afterward.

• Comprehensive dental exam

  What a thorough exam covers and why it takes longer than a quick check.

• Digital X-rays & 3D imaging (CBCT)

  What each scan shows and how much radiation it uses.

• Dental fillings for cavities

  Tooth-colored fillings, how long they last, and replacing old silver fillings.

• Why do I need a crown?

  When a filling isn't enough and a crown protects the tooth.

• Dental crowns & bridges

  Crowns hand-crafted by a local ceramist, and how bridges replace a tooth.

• Root canal treatment

  What a root canal is, whether it hurts, and how long it lasts.

• Tooth extraction

  Why a tooth comes out, what the visit is like, and healing time.

• Wisdom teeth

  When wisdom teeth need to come out and when they can stay.

• Dental implants

  Single implants, full-arch implants and implant dentures, placed and restored in our office.

• Dental bridge vs. implant

  How to choose between the two ways to replace a missing tooth.

• Dentures & partials

  Complete, partial and implant-supported dentures, plus relines and repairs.

• Sedation for anxious patients

  Nitrous oxide and oral sedation to help you relax during treatment.

• Dental anxiety

  How we help nervous patients feel comfortable in the chair.

• Cosmetic dentistry

  Planning a smile that looks natural on you.

• Smile makeover

  Combining treatments to change your whole smile.

• Dental bonding

  Fixing chips, gaps and worn edges in one visit.

• Porcelain veneers

  Planning, mock-ups and what the process looks like.

• Veneer replacement

  Redoing veneers that look fake, have chipped or no longer fit.

• Teeth whitening

  In-office whitening, take-home trays and what store-bought strips can do.

• Clear aligners

  Straightening teeth with clear aligners, similar to Invisalign.

• Before & after gallery

  Real patient results from our office.

• Case studies

  How we diagnose and plan complex treatment, step by step.

Dental costs, insurance & payment

We explain fees before treatment starts, so there are no surprises. These articles cover why costs vary and how to get the most from your dental insurance.

• Dental insurance & payment

  How we work with insurance and what to expect at checkout.

• How much do dental implants cost?

  What goes into the cost of an implant and why quotes differ.

• How much do veneers cost?

  What affects the price of porcelain veneers.

• Why crown costs vary in Jacksonville

  Materials, labs and what you're paying for.

• Out-of-network dental insurance

  How out-of-network benefits work and how to use them.

• Retirement and dental insurance

  Your options for dental coverage after you retire.

• Use your dental benefits before year end

  Why unused benefits disappear in January.

Children's & family dentistry

We see patients from age 2 to 102, so the whole family can come to one office.

• Children's dentistry

  Your child's first visit, cleanings, sealants and fluoride, from age 2.

• General & family dentistry

  Checkups, cleanings and fillings for kids and adults.

• A parent's guide to early childhood dental issues

  Baby teeth, teething, thumb sucking and early cavities.

• Preparing your child for a dental visit

  Simple ways to make the first visit go well.

• Dental sealants

  How sealants protect children's back teeth from cavities.

Home care & prevention

• Home care instructions

  Daily care that keeps your teeth and dental work healthy.

• How to brush your teeth correctly

  Technique, timing and the mistakes most people make.

• Are you brushing too hard?

  How hard brushing wears enamel and pushes gums back.

• The ultimate toothpaste guide

  Which toothpaste dentists actually use, and why.

• Fluoride and Jacksonville water

  What's in our local water and whether you need more fluoride.

• Best foods for healthy teeth

  What to eat, and what to limit, for a healthier mouth.

• 10 dental myths debunked

  Common beliefs about teeth that aren't true.

Post-operative instructions

Recovery depends as much on what happens at home as in the chair. These guides cover pain, bleeding, eating and which symptoms mean you should call us. Existing patients can reach our after-hours line at 904.762.5616.

• After a tooth extraction PDF

  Bleeding, swelling, what to eat and how to avoid dry socket.

• After oral surgery PDF

  Care after implants, grafts and other surgery.

• After a crown or bridge PDF

  Caring for your temporary and your new crown.

• After a hybrid denture PDF

  Cleaning and caring for your new fixed implant denture.

• Caring for fluoride trays PDF

  How to use and clean your custom fluoride trays.