Using gamification for simulators

The aim of this study is to increase awareness and use of the haptics simulation lab at a research medical university using gamification. When the University of North Carolina Adams School of Dentistry first purchased dental case simulators (Simodont), they purchased two and put them in a room disassociated with the preclinical lab resulting in very little use of the simulators. In August of 2024, eight more simulators were purchase and all ten were moved to the preclinical lab. Orientations to the simulators were in the form of eModules on Canvas and face-to-face hands-on training. Faculty members desiring to use them in their courses met with the Simodont administrator to edit cases that came with the simulators. Currently first and second year dental students are using the simulated cases in their preclinical courses with the third and fourth year students already in the clinic attending to