Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 1183: How the Digital Dentist became THE go-to person in his industry w/ Dr. Lorne Lavine
What happens when a former periodontist brings his lifelong passion for technology into one of the most overlooked corners of the healthcare industry? In this episode, you'll meet Dr. Lorne Lavine—also known as The Digital Dentist—who turned a niche IT consulting idea into a multi-decade business serving over 350 dental offices nationwide.
This conversation is a masterclass in niching down, providing peace of mind as a service, and building long-term credibility in a highly specialized industry. Whether you're launching a new business or refining your service delivery, Dr. Lavine’s journey offers rich entrepreneurial lessons.
💡 What You'll Take Away For YOUR Business
- 🦷 How niching down leads to instant credibility and customer trust
- 💻 Why peace of mind is the most valuable thing your service can offer
- 📈 How to evolve your business model every 5–6 years to stay ahead of industry shifts
- 🔐 Why cybersecurity, HIPAA compliance, and backups are overlooked risks—and how to turn them into revenue
- 🧠 The strategic value of education and proactive client communication
- 🛠️ How to productize your services while still offering flexibility to different client types
- 🎯 Why being known in your industry (even in a small niche) is more powerful than general popularity
📝 About the Guest
Dr. Lorne Lavine is the founder and president of The Digital Dentist, a leading managed service provider (MSP) dedicated exclusively to dental practices. A former practicing periodontist, Dr. Lavine brings a rare blend of medical, technological, and business expertise to the dental industry. Since 2002, he’s helped practices across North America stay compliant, secure, and digitally optimized. With a background in both clinical care and IT, he's become the go-to expert in dental technology and HIPAA compliance.
🎯 Dr. Lorne’s BEST Piece of Advice for Wantrepreneurs and Entrepreneurs
"Find something you truly love doing—the money will follow."
Key Takeaways from Dr. Lavine's Advice:
- ✔ Passion leads to sustainability—especially when the entrepreneurial road gets hard
- ✔ If you're not excited to wake up and do the work, you might be in the wrong business
- ✔ Don’t optimize for income first; optimize for fulfillment, and success will follow
📢 Memorable Quotes
- “Most dentists don’t realize until it’s too late—when their systems are down, their business is completely frozen.” – Dr. Lorne Lavine
- “We don’t sell IT services—we sell peace of mind.” – Dr. Lorne Lavine
- “You need to work with people you understand. That’s why we’ve been successful in dental—we speak their language.” – Dr. Lorne Lavine
💡 Actionable Takeaways
- ✅ Educate your market—even if they don’t realize they need your solution yet
- ✅ Don’t wait for disaster to hit before building your business around continuity
- ✅ Specialize in an underserved niche to become the trusted authority
- ✅ Use your past experience as a differentiator—even if you’ve moved into a new industry
🔗 Links & Resources