Use shows what?

• A. The services people are receiving over a certain time
• B. Normative need
• C. The overall prevalence of oral disease
• D. The community's perceived needs

Answer: (A)

Utilization of dental services is the focus here. The use of services shows what people are actually receiving over a defined period, capturing real-world uptake, access, and patterns of care. It reflects how much care is being used, not just whether there is a need or how widespread disease is.

Normative need is about what professionals determine should be provided based on standards, not actual use. The overall prevalence of oral disease tells you how common disease is in the population, not how many people are accessing services. The community's perceived needs reflect what the community believes it needs, which may or may not align with actual service use.