3 lessons that dental assistants can learn from 'Wicked'

I admit it ... I'm a big fan of the musical "Wicked." I have seen it on Broadway and on tour numerous times as well. There's something about the music and the storyline that speaks deeply to me.

Kevin Henry.

By now, I'm sure you have seen one of the ads for "Wicked," the movie adaptation of the musical that is opening in theaters across North America today. While I won't give too many spoilers, I will tell you that my wife and I were lucky enough to catch an early viewing of the "Wicked" movie and, in my opinion, it absolutely lives up to the hype. If you have a chance to see it this holiday season, I believe it's well worth the two hours and 40 minutes of your time.

If you've never seen "Wicked" or don't know anything about it, it tells the story of Elphaba, who is eventually called "The Wicked Witch of the West" and how all of that came to be before Dorothy arrived in Oz. Elphaba's relationship with Glinda (the "good witch" from "The Wicked of Oz" we all grew up watching) is at the center of the "Wicked" musical and produces some of its best moments.

So how does all of that relate to dental assistants? Well, I believe some themes that are at the underbelly of "Wicked" are perfect for these amazing dental team members to embrace every day in the practice and throughout their careers. Spoiler alert: I believe those three lessons are understanding that everyone has a backstory, the importance of sticking to one's beliefs, and the necessity of being consistent in both public and private settings. Through these lessons (and my spin on them for dental assistants), I hope to emphasize the value of empathy, integrity, and authenticity in the dental profession.

You can hear my thoughts below as part of the "Dental Assistant Nation" podcast series, with new episodes coming out every week to empower, enlighten, and educate dental assistants.