John Ende was recently named Great Lakes new president and chief executive officer. Mr. Ende assumed his new role July 1, 2022 and will oversee the company’s strategic planning and business development.

Mr. Ende’s commitment to the healthcare industry spans across decades, from his career start as a Clinical Sales Representative at Johnson & Johnson to senior management positions leading prominent organizations and brands. Most recently, Ende served as executive vice president for Global Sales and Marketing at Rhinomed, an Australian innovator responsible for Mute snoring products and Rhinoswab diagnostic swabs. He also served as president and general manager for North America at Nelsons, the maker of RESCUE Remedy. Prior to that he held executive leadership roles at oral care startup Hello Products and The Mentholatum Company. At each organization Ende played a key role in the successful launch of new healthcare brands and products, including Mute, RESCUE Plus Sleep, Hello, and Rohto Eye Drops.

Mr. Ende also served on active duty as an engineer officer in the United States Army, serving in the Buffalo District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Third Infantry Division in Germany. He earned an MBA from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York and a BS in Environmental Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Great Lakes, an employee-owned company, provides products, laboratory services, and both in-house and online appliance fabrication training to members of the orthodontic, prosthodontic, restorative, and general dental professions worldwide.

Great Lakes corporate headquarters is located at 200 Cooper Avenue in Tonawanda, New York.  

Polaroid HealthCare, the distributor of industry leading Dental Imaging and Diagnostic products is proud to announce that they have been chosen to distribute the New HuLaser K2 Mobile Cordless Diode Laser into the USA through the dental dealer distribution channels. The K2 Mobile Laser and its support protocols meet the high standard set by Polaroid HealthCare. The lightweight and balanced K2 weighs in at just 135G’s, which includes the battery. The wireless K2 is feature packed and provides more user options than many of the more expensive corded units with its 22 pre-set programs plus 4 additional memory settings that are user definable for added convenience. The powerful laser provides enough power for most any soft tissue procedure with 3.5W of continuous power, and up to 6W pulse.

Designed in South Korea, with major components from Germany and Japan, the K2’s innovative design includes 10 technology patents, and two design patents that provide increased efficiency, durability, and an ergonomic design, for comfortable use. This unit has been sold worldwide for the last couple of years with an outstanding reliability track record. Should you have any product issues covered by the manufacturer’s 2-Year warranty period, your unit will be replaced from our California warehouse.

The K2 is well thought out, both for productivity and economical use. The K2 features the world’s first AFL system. A patented Adjustable Fiber Length system that is ideal for instantly reaching anywhere in the mouth, especially those hard to access areas. The K2 is very economical to operate as well. It features autoclavable Optic Fibers, Aluminum front caps, and Hygienic silicone front covers. The autoclavable Optic Fibers get up to 50 uses per fiber, making them less than a dollar per use, much more cost effective than many other units requiring costly disposable tips.

The easy to operate K2 Laser is available through your local authorized Polaroid HealthCare full service dealer. Contact them to arrange a demo, or visit www.polaroidhealth.com 844-789-5050 for additional details. 

Partnership commemorated with $35,000 in contributions to Casa De Peregrinos, New Mexico Mission of Mercy and Hermit’s Peak Wildfire Relief Fund

DentaQuest and Presbyterian Health Plan (PHP), today, celebrate 25 years of partnership, which has helped thousands of New Mexicans receive comprehensive oral health care. To commemorate this exceptional partnership, DentaQuest is contributing a total of $35,000 to three non-profit organizations across New Mexico including Casa De Peregrinos, New Mexico Mission of Mercy and the Hermit’s Peak Wildfire Relief Fund (organized by the Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation).

Casa De Peregrinos’ mission is to end hunger while mobilizing resources that build strong, diverse, and inclusive relationships and partnerships in the community. With DentaQuest’s $15,000 contribution, over 90,000 meals will be purchased and distributed to 30,000 families in need across southern New Mexico. DentaQuest’s $10,000 donation to New Mexico Mission of Mercy will support the New Mexico Dental Association Foundation’s efforts to provide dental treatment at no cost to New Mexicans who cannot access and/or afford dental care.

“DentaQuest has been a dependable partner with the shared goal of keeping members at the center of every decision. They also recognize the importance of fostering strong relationships with dental providers, communities and stakeholders in order to support customer satisfaction and strong outcomes,” said Mary Eden, Senior Vice President Government Programs. “We’re grateful for the depth of expertise that DentaQuest provides in the administration of dental benefits and we look forward to the continuation of our partnership in service to our members.”

Additionally, DentaQuest provided dental tool kits — filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss — to the Barret House, Mandy’s Farm, Safe House New Mexico, and Community for Learning.

“DentaQuest is grateful for the 25-year partnership with Presbyterian Health Plan and are proud of all the incredible milestones we’ve accomplished together,” said Mark Sanchez, executive director, DentaQuest New Mexico. “This landmark anniversary is a testament to our tireless commitment to remain a trusted partner providing top-tier comprehensive dental benefits.” This is a team effort!

StarAligners Illumina™ Oral Therapy System, with its unique three wave lengths of light, enhances gum health, increases circulation, and provides teeth whitening and photobiomodulation (PBM).

StarAligners, Inc, a leader and innovator of clear aligners, orthodontic products, and solutions, announces the launch of Illumina™, an innovative orthodontic product new to the market. Incorporating three distinct wave lengths of light, the Illumina™ can assist in reducing treatment time on clear aligner therapy¹ using near-infrared light in addition to whitening teeth and can slow, and in some cases, reverse receding gum lines.

Mitochondrial enzymes can absorb photons from light and increase the production of Adenosine 5' – triphosphate ATP energy, allowing the tissues to metabolize normally. ATP production has been shown to be upregulated twofold by infrared light, also known as photobiomodulation. By combining three, distinct types of light, the Illumina™ device is exceptional for overall patient outcomes.

Illumina™ offers three wave lengths of light:

450nm Blue (for teeth whitening)

600nm Red (for gum health)

850nm Near infrared (for facilitating tooth movement)

The StarAligners Illumina™ Oral Therapy device uses light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in the infrared and red spectrums that are medically proven to increase circulation, enhance gum health, increase circulation. Non-UV blue lights increase the effectiveness of whitening gels by removing tannin stains from coffee, tea, and wine, leaving whiter teeth. The device also comes with a 1.7oz bottle of StarAligners™ Teeth Whitener & Aligner Cleaner foam specially formulated to work with Illumina.

"Thanks to the innovative technology of Illumina™ is a game-changer for patients and our business," states John Nabors, StarAligners VP Operations and Sales. "Photobiomodulation has been around for decades, and multiple peer-reviewed articles demonstrate the efficacy of its use in accelerating clear aligner treatment. We have an exceptional device that doctors can now order for their patients or can be purchased directly from our ecommerce site."

To learn more and to purchase Ilumina™ and StarAligners Whitening Foam for special pricing, please visit: https://www.staralignerspro.com/product/illumina-oral-therapy-system/.

1. Ojima, et.al. Invisalign Treatment Accelerated by Photobiomodulation. J Clin Orthod. 2016 May;50(5):309-17; quiz 319-20.

HNAP accreditation ensures adherence to health data processing standards and compliance with security infrastructure and integrity requirements

Retrace, a leader in dental artificial intelligence and the first native-built AI healthcare clearinghouse providing digital infrastructure for US health care, announced today it has achieved full accreditation with the Healthcare Network Accreditation Program (HNAP) for Electronic Health Networks (EHN) from the Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission. HNAP EHN accreditation recognizes excellence in health data processing and transactions and is intended for organizations whose electronic health networks perform claims clearinghouse or EDI gateway functions to ensure compliance with industry-established standards and HIPAA regulations.

Through EHNAC's comprehensive third-party review, Retrace was evaluated in areas of privacy measures, systems availability and security infrastructure. In addition, EHNAC reviewed the organization's process of managing and transferring protected health information and determined that the organization meets or exceeds all EHNAC criteria and industry standards. Through completion of the rigorous accreditation process, the organization demonstrates to its constituents, adherence to strict standards and participation in the comprehensive, objective evaluation of its business.

"Retrace holds itself to the highest standards and we are committed to protecting our doctors and their patients' personal health information, " said Dr. Ali Sadat, Founder and CEO of Retrace. "We are proud to be the first dental AI company to achieve this 'seal of approval' and firmly believe this accreditation demonstrates our commitment to data protection, privacy and security on behalf of our insurance and provider partners."

"This is an important achievement for a company – it conveys Retrace has taken the necessary steps to ensure its stakeholders and customers that it is adhering to the latest standards in privacy, security and compliance. Regulatory concerns continue to be front and center on the minds of leadership in today's healthcare ecosystem," said Lee Barrett, executive director and CEO of EHNAC. "Attaining a Healthcare Network Accreditation provides a 'seal of approval' for Retrace, which has demonstrated a full commitment to ensuring the security and privacy of health data processing and transactions for their customers."

Leading Dental Support Organization Announces National Scholarship Winners in Dental Hygiene

Concorde Career Colleges and Heartland Dental are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 Heartland Dental Hygiene Scholarship, a $40,000 awards package created to help future dental hygienists provide lifetime care and positive patient experiences.Heartland Dental, one of the nation's largest dental support organizations, supports hygienists and their education, recognizing their important role in delivering great patient care. With national growth in dental hygienist job openings predicted to increase 11% over the next decade, both Concorde Career Colleges and Heartland Dental understand the current demand for these healthcare professionals, which led to the announcement of these scholarships in late 2021.

"At Heartland Dental, we're committed to investing in the future of dental hygienists. These incredible professionals are deeply rooted in our communities and those who choose this career have the chance to change peoples' lives forever," said Cathy Telles, Program Manager of Externships & College Partnerships for Heartland Dental. "In recognition of our appreciation for these important individuals, we are thrilled to award the 2022 Heartland Dental Hygiene Scholarships as a way to support hygienists and provide them the chance to continue their education, develop leadership skills and become mentors within their community."

The 16 Concorde Career College/Concorde Career Institute recipients of individual $2,500 scholarships include:

Lauren Jardino, Aurora

Jasmina Krkalic, Aurora

Kaelynn Kendrick, Dallas

Riya Patel, Dallas

Monica Amaya, Grand Prairie

Ana Martinez, Grand Prairie

Ashley Brown, Kansas City

Katelynn Norris, Kansas City

Alaina Crowder, Memphis

Agneris Falcon-Gonzalez, Orlando

Tracey Khan, Orlando

Jasalynn Applin, San Antonio

Justine Else, San Antonio

Katarina Valdez, San Antonio

Rossana Canetti Gonzalez, Tampa

Desiree Morales, Tampa

"Concorde Career Colleges is grateful to Heartland Dental for recognizing our dental hygiene program graduates for the role they play in improving the health, wellness and happiness of patients," said Jami Frazier, CEO of Concorde Career Colleges. "Heartland's investment in these highly qualified students helps amplify our commitment to the healthcare community. These students are tomorrow's professionals, working everywhere from public health, and specialty practices to private and group practices, and hospital-based dental clinics."

For more information on Concorde's scholarship process, please visit www.concorde.edu.