dentally incorrect feature How Dentistry Mirrors 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 Star Wars have a more enjoyable career. On Twitter: @ryderwaldrondds. The Star Wars galaxy is rife with parallels George Lucas = GV Black of dentists across the nation. That was before to dentistry. For example, dentists are much The father of Star Wars and the father the dark times. Before the PPOs. like the Sarlacc Pit. Have you ever seen a of dentistry. Easy enough. group of dentists around free food? There Darth Vader = Dental Schools isn’t a crumb left, and with our sedentary Jedi Knights = Dental Office Staff Both had good intentions, but ultimately lifestyle it sure seems like digestion takes Our endless supply of khakis may bring went down a dark path. Vader turned to the 1,000 years. A few more comparisons: to mind the Jedi robes, but our staffs keep Dark Side of the Force and killed many Jedi. our personal galaxies running smoothly and Dental schools increased class size, nearly Emperor Palpatine = get little credit for doing so. What could be doubled tuition and helped the Force choke Dental Insurance Companies more Jedi-like than that?! the independence out of dentistry. Both subtly manipulated others to further their own goals of unlimited power. Galactic Empire = The ADA Rebel Alliance = Dentaltown Any time a dentist sends in an insurance The Empire used to be a republic that Dentaltown is fighting against dental claim, you can almost hear Admiral Ackbar represented galactic citizens, just like the oppression and promoting the freedom of exclaim, “It’s a trap!” ADA used to function to serve as the voice dentists everywhere. n humor with bite FREE FACTS, circle 33 on card 112 OCTOBER 2016 // dentaltown.com.