Smiling in Triumph Despite Decay

A dental x-ray. Photo: Opreanu Roberto Sorin / Alamy

Several days ago, I spent more than I would have liked on a dental procedure that involved removing decay from one of my molars, doing a lot of horrible-sounding drilling and scraping, then saving the delicate bits that remained by capping it with a fake tooth. My dentist insisted this was called a “crown,” but I know a euphemism when I see one.

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An image of the November 2026 issue of Sojourners, titled "Face to Face." It features George Lakey on the cover
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