[spidey]

A proper dentistry by the vet is more than "cleaning" - there can be all manner of problems below the gumline which brushing cannot prevent (resorptive lesions, fractures, bone loss, etc.), although brushing IS very important and useful. The teeth affect the whole body (bad teeth can lead to life-threatening heart, liver and kidney problems, among others), and thinking of proper veterinary dentistry as just "cleaning" is inaccurate. I work for a vet who is in the process of board certification for dental specialty, and it's really amazing just how little some vets know (or care) about teeth - putting a dog under for a proper dentistry should be considered as much a part of good preventive health care as any other procedure, it is not "just" cosmetic (unless the vet only cleans the teeth and does nothing further, in which case it's not worth doing at all in most cases). The teeth do not have to look bad to have a serious problem below the gumline, dog teeth are like icebergs, the part you see is less than half of the whole tooth, which is why the AVMA recommendations include dental x-rays as part of routine dental work.