A method and apparatus for curing dental material with radiation from a halogen lamp provides for a shifting of a spectrum of the radiation to a shorter wavelength for increased rate of curing by adjusting current flow within a heating element of the lamp. The current is applied over an interval of time for accomplishing the curing. Feedback and feedforward circuitry, operative with a control signal of a regulated power source to reduce voltage applied by the power source to the heating element during an initial portion of the interval of time, prior to obtaining an operating temperature of the heating element, to maintain an upper bound on the magnitude of the current applied to the heating element, thereby to the vivid unnecessary and operations of the heating element for increased operating lifetime of the lamp.