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To describe the use of dental services in two periods and associated factors in older people residing in the rural area of a municipality in southern Brazil.This was a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort study. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect the variables of interest. The dependent variables were the use of dental services in the 12 and 36 months prior to the interview.A total of 863 older people were interviewed, 24.7% of whom had visited a dentist in the previous year and 38.7% had visited a dentist in the previous 3 years. Skin colour, health insurance and self-rated health were associated with both outcomes. Individuals with non-white skin, those who did not have health insurance and those who considered their health to be poor or very poor were more likely to take a long time before seeking oral health services. Differences between the two outcomes were observed in oral health and the use of tobacco. The likelihood of having gone more than 3 years without visiting a dentist was greater among smokers and lower among those with dental caries.The prevalence of dental service use was low. Variables related to the adoption of unhealthy behaviours and the occurrence of oral diseases were only related to the use of dental services 36 months prior to the interview. Public policies must be reorganised to prioritise population groups with greater difficulties in the use of dental services.