Dentally Incorrect by Ryder Waldron, DDS

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!”

George Lucas = GV Black
The father of Star Wars and the father of dentistry. Easy enough.

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?!

Galactic Empire = The ADA
The Empire used to be a republic that represented galactic citizens, just like the ADA used to function to serve as the voice of dentists across the nation. That was before the dark times. Before the PPOs.

Darth Vader = Dental Schools
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.

Rebel Alliance = Dentaltown
Dentaltown is fighting against dental oppression and promoting the freedom of dentists everywhere.

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