dentally incorrect
feature
How Dentistry Mirrors
Star Wars
The Star Wars galaxy is rife with parallels
to dentistry. For example, dentists are much
like the Sarlacc Pit. Have you ever seen a
group of dentists around free food? There
isn’t a crumb left, and with our sedentary
lifestyle it sure seems like digestion takes
1,000 years. A few more comparisons:
Emperor Palpatine =
Dental Insurance Companies
Both subtly manipulated others to
further their own goals of unlimited power.
Any time a dentist sends in an insurance
claim, you can almost hear Admiral Ackbar
exclaim, “It’s a trap!”
by Ryder Waldron, DDS
Dr. Ryder Waldron is a practicing general dentist, co-host of the
Dental Realist Podcast (with Drs. Marcus Neff and Troy Stevens),
co-host of the Idiot’s Array Podcast (a Star Wars podcast), and
co-author of the books So You Want to Be a Dentist? and So Now
You’re a Dentist? aimed at helping dentists and future dentists
have a more enjoyable career. On Twitter: @ryderwaldrondds.
George Lucas = GV Black
The father of Star Wars and the father
of dentistry. Easy enough.
Darth Vader = Dental Schools
Jedi Knights = Dental Office Staff
Our endless supply of khakis may bring
to mind the Jedi robes, but our staffs keep
our personal galaxies running smoothly and
get little credit for doing so. What could be
more Jedi-like than that?!
Both had good intentions, but ultimately
went down a dark path. Vader turned to the
Dark Side of the Force and killed many Jedi.
Dental schools increased class size, nearly
doubled tuition and helped the Force choke
the independence out of dentistry.
Galactic Empire = The ADA
Rebel Alliance = Dentaltown
The Empire used to be a republic that
represented galactic citizens, just like the
ADA used to function to serve as the voice
Dentaltown is fighting against dental
oppressionandpromotingthefreedomof
dentists everywhere. n
humor with bite
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112
OCTOBER 2016 // dentaltown.com
of dentists across the nation. That was before
the dark times. Before the PPOs.