How Melinda got her smile back

Video by Bruce Cooper and Chris Peterson

Melinda Molnar has a special celebration ahead of her: In just a few months, she will be celebrating her 50th birthday! This milestone comes nearly 20 years after a back injury requiring surgery led to an addiction to pain medication, followed by meth and cocaine use, then to a divorce and homelessness.

"The drugs I was doing rotted my teeth", Melinda said. "I don't know how many teeth I had left but they were all black. I was in a lot of pain. I had to sleep sitting up a lot of nights."

Melinda lived on the streets for six years and eventually faced arrests, convictions, and probation. The relentless addiction and repeated violations of her probation led to a 2 ½ year sentence in Perryville Prison, where she crossed paths with a prison minister who helped change her life. After finishing her sentence, she slowly started rebuilding her life and started working with an agency that helps recovering addicts. 

She loved the job, but the one thing she couldn't face was her smile. It hurt her self-image and made it difficult to increase career opportunities.

As luck would have it a co-worker at the agency, who had much needed dental work performed at the St. Vincent de Paul dental clinic, referred her to the SVdP's Delta Dental of Arizona Oral Health Center. Melinda was able to have her damaged teeth extracted and was fitted with a set of dentures by Dr. Bezanahy Leyva. 

She now speaks proudly and confidently on the job and everywhere she goes. In fact, she has a smile that can light up any room. And for the first time in decades, she imagines a future that isn't defined by survival.

"I want to do some volunteering to pay it forward. That would mean a lot to me," she said. "Maybe Rosalie's Place, I want to work there... That's where my heart is, with the people who are less fortunate."