UK residents Free Dental Check Ups in June for your Pet

For those people living in the UK June is National Pet Smile Month.
http://www.petsmile.org/public/default.asp
They are doing this to promote good dental health in cats and dogs. Free dental check ups from all vets taking part in this. I checked my postcode and there are 3 vets in my area taking part. One just around the corner. It is jointly promoted by Felix and Bonio. (And you get a free goody bag too). They state how bad teeth can cause damage to organs such as the heart, kidney etc.

When i took Rosie for her booster the other week the vet gives her a thorough examination when she's there including her teeth, but thanks for that Cilla

Too bad it's not offered over here! Will you be taking your babies, Ann?

I don't think I'm taking mine Stephanie. My vet isn't participating, and I like to keep them to the same one. They are due at the end of the year for a dental check up, but I do check them myself, just in case. Some people in UK may not know about this though, and their vet could very well be participating.

When I take Dori to the vet they always look at her gums, but is that really considered a dental checkup, or is there another that I would need to specifically request for them to ? At what age should you start having your cat in for regular dental check ups and their teeth cleaned?