In the chair, the dentist clicked on a light and peered inside. She winced. “It’s infected. We can pull it, or…” She hesitated, lowering her voice. “Off the record, if you had $400, I could do a temporary crown. It’ll last two years.”
Maria thought of Leo’s lunch—soft bread, yogurt, soup. She hadn’t bitten into an apple in months. She thought of job interviews, how she covered her mouth when she laughed. ontario works dental coverage
Ontario Works had kept her housed and fed. But it couldn’t save her teeth. And without teeth, she wondered how many employers would ever hire her to wash dishes, answer phones, or smile at customers again. In the chair, the dentist clicked on a
She nodded, tears prickling—from pain or defeat, she wasn’t sure. On the bus home, she saw a billboard for a private dental clinic: Smile with confidence. Payment plans available. We can pull it, or…” She hesitated, lowering her voice