Margaret Atwood emphasizes that love cannot be treated as a profession, suggesting it is far more complex and intimate than any technical or clinical practice. She distinguishes between emotional connections and physical needs, implying that love involves deep understanding rather than superficial treatment.

By comparing love and sex to dentistry, Atwood critiques the notion of fulfilling desires merely through physical means. She makes it clear that her partner is not a remedy for her ailments, highlighting that human connections should not be seen as mere solutions to pain but as nuanced experiences requiring mutual care and respect.