Regular use of dental services among adults and older adults in a vulnerable region in Southern Brazil.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of regular use of dental care services by adults and older adults residing in vulnerable community and to identify associated factors.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was carried out with 3,391 adults and older adults residing in areas of social vulnerability in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, from July to December of 2009. A systematic sampling method was used the selection probability proportional to the population of each of the the 121 census sectors.