A free dental appointment gives renewed smiles and outlooks on life

A smile after a trip to the dentist is expected, but what’s behind the smile after a Deserving Dental appointment is more than just clean teeth. “I’ve been homeless and out on the streets, and so not taking care of myself out there, I’m not representing myself as a real woman,” said Flyana Rowe, a resident at Urban Peak in Denver. The shelter, which serves youth experiencing homelessness, is also one of the latest locations the nonprofit, Deserving Dental, held appointments.

Rowe went on to explain just how much this check-up meant for her: “And so for me to be in a shelter and get my teeth done and stuff shows that I’m actually caring about myself for once.”