For Dental Educators

The Only Training System for Perfecting Light-Curing Technique

The MARC Patient Simulator turns an invisible clinical skill into a measurable, coachable one — giving your students real-time feedback on light-curing performance before they ever treat a patient.

Instructor demonstrating light-curing technique with MARC Patient Simulator
25%
of Top Dental Schools
50+
Institutions Worldwide
200+
Peer-Reviewed Articles
32%
Light Delivery Improvement

Light-Curing Is Taught, But Rarely Measured

Every dental school teaches students about light-curing adhesives, composites, and sealants. Yet very few can measure the ability of their students to actually deliver light in the mouth.

Students see the blue light turn on and assume the filling is cured. But small errors in angulation, distance, tip contamination, or movement can leave resins under-cured — fueling post-operative sensitivity, marginal staining, and early failure.

Studies show that before training, failure rates (below 6 J/cm² minimum) can be as high as 37.5%. A single training session with MARC reduces that to 2.5%.

MARC Patient Simulator in use

From Invisible to Measurable in Three Steps

MARC uses laboratory-grade sensors embedded in a realistic typodont head to provide objective, real-time measurement of light-curing performance.

1

Cure the Simulated Restoration

Students use their curing light on MARC's typodont head, just as they would on a real patient. Embedded spectroradiometer sensors measure irradiance (mW/cm²) in real time.

2

Get Instant Visual Feedback

The MARC-PS software displays real-time irradiance curves and calculates total radiant exposure (J/cm²) delivered to each simulated restoration.

3

Improve & Retain Skills

With objective data, instructors can coach technique improvements. Research shows these skills are retained for 2+ years after training.

See the Difference One Session Makes

Real-time irradiance curves let instructors and students see exactly what's happening during light-curing — and how quickly technique improves.

Before Training
Before training - erratic irradiance curves showing inconsistent light delivery

Inconsistent energy delivery. Erratic curves show poor tip placement, movement, and premature withdrawal.

After Training
After training - consistent irradiance curves showing improved light delivery technique

Consistent, high-energy delivery. Stable curves show proper technique with sustained tip placement.

32%

Using MARC, dental students improved their light-curing technique and increased light delivery to the restoration by 32 percent.
Price et al., JADA 2014; 145(1): 32–43

Everything You Need, Ready to Go

MARC comes as a complete, turnkey training system. No additional equipment required.

Mannequin Head

Bench mount with adjustable opening and simulated oral cavity

Mac App

MARC-PS software available on the Mac App Store, easy to install and update

Restoration Sensors

Anterior and posterior embedded sensors for clinical-position measurement

Spectrometer

Measures curing light wavelengths and delivers real-time performance metrics

Built for the Dental Classroom

Light-curing impacts over 50% of dental procedures. Give your students the evidence-based training to get it right.

Real-Time Feedback

Students see irradiance (mW/cm²) as a live graph while they cure — making the invisible, visible. No more guessing whether the light reached the restoration.

Objective Assessment

Total radiant exposure (J/cm²) is calculated automatically. Use it for pre/post assessment, competency benchmarks, or curriculum validation.

Class-Wide Analytics

Compare performance across an entire cohort. Filter by student, session, or curing light for detailed class-wide analysis and reporting.

Proven Skill Retention

Research shows a single training session reduces failure rates from 37.5% to 2.5% — and skills are retained for 2+ years after training.

200+ Publications

The most widely validated light-curing training system in dental education. Your accreditation and curriculum committees will have the evidence they need.

Works With Any Curing Light

Students practice with any brand of curing light in a clinically realistic setup. Compare light sources side by side with objective data.

Trusted by Leading Institutions

50+ organizations are using the MARC Patient Simulator to train dentists, including:

University of California
Los Angeles, CA
Faculty of Dentistry
Toronto, Canada
Adams School of Dentistry
Chapel Hill, NC
School of Dentistry
Edinburgh, Scotland
Faculty of Medicine
Helsinki, Finland
School of Dentistry
Loma Linda, CA
School of Dental Medicine
Buffalo, NY
Faculty of Dentistry
Halifax, Canada

...and 50+ institutions worldwide across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and beyond.

Backed by Peer-Reviewed Research

Over 200 scientific articles have been published using MARC technology. Here are some key findings.

2025 · J. Dental Education

Targeted Training Improves Light-Curing Confidence Across Specialties

Key finding: 49 dental residents across three specialties showed significant improvements in irradiance and radiant exposure after training with the MARC-PS system.
Read paper
2024 · Journal of Dentistry

The Dark Art of Light Curing in Dentistry

Key finding: 50% of measured irradiance values differed from manufacturers' claims by >10%. Significant variability in power outputs, spectra, and tip diameters across curing units.
Read paper
2023 · Frontiers in Dental Medicine

Light-Curing Composites: How It Works and How to Make It Work

Key finding: Operator technique significantly affects energy delivery. MARC-PS referenced as a key tool for teaching proper curing techniques.
Read paper
2023 · Advances in Medical Education

Skill Retention of Light-Curing Technique — A 2-Year Follow-Up

Key finding: Students delivered 32% more light energy after training. Critically, this improvement was retained at a 2-year follow-up assessment.
Read paper
2020 · J. Dental Education

Training and Experience Effect on Light-Curing Efficiency

Key finding: Participants delivered 60% more energy after instruction. A single training session improved performance more than years of clinical experience alone.
Read paper
2014 · JADA (Landmark Study)

Effectiveness of a Patient Simulator for Teaching Light-Curing Skills

Key finding: The landmark validation study. Skills retained for 5+ months. Students and instructors were unaware of energy delivery gaps before training.
Read paper
The MARC Patient Simulator is a clinically-grounded, evidence-based teaching tool that allows us to objectively measure what was previously invisible. Our students leave with demonstrably better technique.
Dental Educator
MARC-PS adopting institution

Ready to Transform Light-Curing Education?

See how MARC can fit into your preclinical curriculum. Fill out the form and our team will schedule a live demo at your convenience.

30-minute live walkthrough
See real student data & outcomes
Get a custom curriculum integration plan

Download the Research Summary

Get a comprehensive overview of 200+ peer-reviewed publications on light-curing education and the MARC Patient Simulator.

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