Most dogs and cats need a professional dental cleaning under anesthesia at some point, because the gum disease that loosens teeth starts below the gumline where you can't see it. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville provides pet dental care and oral health services in Huntersville, from routine cleanings to extractions and periodontal treatment (care for the gums and the tissues holding each tooth in place).
Signs your pet needs a dental check include bad breath, a red line along the gums, tartar, chewing on one side and dropping food.
Call (704) 800-4149 or book online.
How does gum disease develop in dogs and cats?
Gum disease builds slowly over years. Here is how Petfolk Huntersville explains the timeline:
Puppy and kitten months. Adult teeth come in by about six months. Baby teeth that stay next to the adult ones (retained teeth) trap food and are usually removed, often during the spay or neuter.
Ages 1 to 3. Plaque, a soft film of bacteria, builds up daily and hardens into tartar. Many pets already have early gum inflammation (gingivitis), which cleaning and home care can reverse.
Middle years. Inflammation moves below the gumline, and the bone and ligament anchoring each tooth break down. That is periodontal disease, and lost bone doesn't grow back. Small breeds, flat-faced breeds and many cats get there faster.
Senior years. Loose teeth, root abscesses and painful cat lesions called tooth resorptions become common. Pets rarely stop eating from mouth pain; they chew on one side, drop food or lose interest in hard treats. Our senior pet care page explains why yearly exams matter more with age.
Which pets have dental procedures at Petfolk?
Dental procedures at Petfolk are mostly for older pets. At Petfolk Huntersville, the typical dog having a dental procedure is about 8 years old (Petfolk data, October 2025 to September 2026). Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, more than half of dental patients are 7 or older (56% of dogs, 57% of cats) in the same window.
Brought my 14 year old cat in for a dental cleaning and tooth extraction.
Bonnie M., Google review
What happens on dental day at Petfolk Huntersville?
A dental day at Petfolk Huntersville follows these steps:
The night before. You get fasting instructions. Water is usually fine, and regular medicines continue unless the vet says otherwise.
Morning check-in. The vet examines your pet and reviews pre-anesthetic blood work. You get an estimate before anything starts, including what extractions would add.
Anesthesia and monitoring. A breathing tube protects the airway, and a team member monitors breathing, heart and other vital signs throughout.
Dental x-rays and charting. X-rays show the roots and bone below the gumline, where most disease hides. Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, about 97% of dental procedures include dental x-rays (October 2025 to September 2026). The vet probes around each tooth and records pockets, loose teeth and fractures.
Scaling and polishing. Tartar is removed above and below the gumline, and polishing smooths the enamel.
Extractions, if needed. A loose, broken or badly diseased tooth is often best removed. The vet calls you before removing any teeth you didn't already approve and plans pain control with you.
Waking up and pick-up. Most pets go home the same day with written aftercare, any pain medicine and a recheck plan. Soft food for a few days is common after extractions.
Why isn't a cleaning without anesthesia enough?
Scraping tartar off an awake pet makes teeth look better but leaves disease under the gumline untouched, and an awake pet can't be fully probed or x-rayed. The AVMA advises against anesthesia-free dental cleanings for this reason, and Petfolk Huntersville cleans teeth under anesthesia.
How can I care for my pet's teeth at home?
Home care slows plaque between professional cleanings. Petfolk Huntersville suggests:
Brushing with a pet toothpaste (never human toothpaste). Daily is ideal; a few times a week still helps.
Dental chews and diets with the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal, which have been tested to reduce plaque or tartar.
No hard bones, antlers or hooves, a common cause of broken teeth.
Which mouth problems need care right away?
Book soon for a broken tooth, swelling under an eye or bleeding gums. Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet's face swells suddenly with trouble breathing, or after a blow to the jaw with heavy bleeding.
For a vet in Huntersville to check your pet's teeth and gums, book a dental visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville, 14227 Boren St, Suite 100, Huntersville, NC 28078.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville, or see all veterinary services in Huntersville.
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