How mentorship helped Dr. LaVar Johnson rise again.
Fifteen years ago, Dr. LaVar Johnson stood at a crossroads. Having practiced alongside his father for over two decades, he suddenly found himself without his lifelong mentor. When his father passed away, LaVar lost not just a parent, but the mentor who had shaped his career.
Dr. Johnson describes feeling an empty space in his life after his father’s passing — a gap where mentorship once guided him. That search for direction led him to Tony and the Sunrise community through a sedation course. It marked the beginning of a new chapter in his professional and personal growth, one that would reshape his career and restore his sense of purpose.
Running the practice alone was daunting. Staff turnover, patient flow, keeping up with advances—“My dad was always ahead of the curve,” Dr. Johnson says. “Lasers, implant dentistry—he even brought the Brånemark system to our little town.”
As Dr. Johnson navigated life and dentistry without his father, he found the guidance he needed through Tony and the Sunrise community. With Sunrise, Dr. Johnson not only strengthened his clinical skills but also discovered how to lead others with purpose and confidence.
He learned to view his practice as more than a business, it was a team, a collective of people who could rise together.
One of the defining moments in Dr. Johnson’s career came when he decided to take on implant dentistry. Though he had never placed an implant before, he was determined to grow. With Tony’s encouragement, he stepped outside his comfort zone and took a bold leap forward.
That experience became a catalyst. Over the next decade, implants became one of the most successful and rewarding parts of his practice. More importantly, it taught him a lasting lesson about courage, the kind that comes when someone believes in you before you fully believe in yourself.
Growth Beyond the Numbers
What started as a ten-person team and a $2 million dollar practice evolved into a thriving $5 million dollar operation. Dr. Johnson set a goal of five million in five years and achieved it right on schedule.
For Dr. Johnson, real growth wasn’t about production, it was about becoming a stronger leader. Naturally introverted, he learned to guide his team through action, clarity, and trust. With mentorship from Tony, John, and others, he found balance between humility and confidence, shifting from being the student to becoming the teacher.
Behind every achievement, Dr. Johnson sees the influence of the people who believed in him—his mentors, his faith, and his loyal team. Many of his staff members, including longtime colleagues who have been with him since the early days, have walked every step of this journey alongside him. Their encouragement and his unwavering faith have grounded him through challenges and fueled his continued success.
To other dentists who may feel stuck or uncertain, Dr. Johnson’s advice is simple but profound: stay the course. The valleys are temporary, he said. The lessons are lasting, and the right mentors can turn any moment of doubt into a season of growth.
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