What percentage of elders actually visit the dentist?

• A. 46%
• B. 25%
• C. 60%
• D. 75%

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that elderly people underutilize dental services. A lot of older adults face barriers that limit access to care—cost and lack of dental coverage (Medicare doesn’t routinely cover general dentistry), transportation or mobility problems, competing health issues, and the perception that dental visits aren’t urgent. Because of these factors, the typical proportion of elders who actually visit the dentist is less than half. That’s why the option indicating a rate below fifty percent is the best fit. The higher percentages would suggest far more frequent visits than what is commonly observed, and the very low end would be unusually low compared to most data. In short, elders visit the dentist at a rate under fifty percent, reflecting underutilization of dental care in this group.