Across from her, a man in a torn carpenter’s jacket stared at a pamphlet titled Ontario Works: Your Health Benefits . He’d been laid off when the warehouse automated his shift. Maria understood. She’d been on OW for four months now, ever since the diner closed. The monthly $733 cheque barely covered her basement room and groceries. But the dental card—a flimsy piece of yellow paper—was her only lifeline.
“The tooth behind it is starting to shift,” the dentist added quietly. “If we pull this one, you might lose the next in five years. Chewing will get harder.” ontario works dental coverage
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. Across from her, a man in a torn
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.” She’d been on OW for four months now,
Maria looked away. Her smile was gone. But at least the infection was too.
Maria’s hands were numb. $400 was more than half her monthly rent.
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.