Monet Laser Curing Light: Faster, More Consistent Bonding for Braces and Aligner Attachments

What Is the Monet Laser Curing Light, and Why Does an Orthodontist Care?

The Monet laser curing light is a handheld dental curing light from AMD Lasers that uses diode laser technology instead of a traditional LED to harden bonding materials. According to the manufacturer, it can cure composite material to a depth of 8 mm in about 3 seconds. For orthodontic patients, that speed matters most when brackets and aligner attachments are being bonded to the teeth.

At Wall Street Orthodontics in Lower Manhattan, Dr. Lucas Shapiro recently shared his reaction to the Monet in a TikTok, calling it the fastest curing light he has used and describing how quickly it bonds brackets and attachments. You can watch it here:

Watch the original TikTok

What Does a Curing Light Actually Do in Orthodontics?

A curing light delivers focused light energy that hardens, or "cures," the adhesive used to attach orthodontic appliances to the surface of a tooth. Nearly every treatment involves this step in some form:

A bond that cures fully and consistently is what keeps a bracket or attachment in place for the months of treatment that follow.

How Is a Laser Curing Light Different from a Standard LED Light?

The main difference is how the light behaves. A conventional LED curing light spreads its beam, so the energy reaching the tooth drops off as the light moves further from the surface. In a mouth, where angles are awkward and a perfectly steady distance is hard to hold, that can mean uneven curing.

AMD Lasers reports that the Monet produces a collimated beam, meaning the light travels in a straight, parallel line rather than spreading out. The manufacturer states that the beam stays consistent in size and intensity regardless of distance, at roughly 12 mm in diameter, and that the handpiece has a fully rotating head to reach all areas of the mouth. The company also offers a newer version, the Monet+, which it describes as capable of curing in as little as one second.

These are manufacturer-reported specifications, so the practical takeaway is the one Dr. Shapiro highlights in his video: in day-to-day use, it is very fast at bonding brackets and attachments.

Can a Laser Curing Light Be Used for Fillings?

Curing lights are used in general dentistry to harden composite fillings as well, and Dr. Shapiro mentions that the Monet is reportedly excellent for that purpose. As an orthodontic practice, Wall Street Orthodontics does not place fillings, so the focus here is on bonding braces brackets and aligner attachments.