Study the history of dentistry and its evolution. Consider one of several approaches to researching dental history. Write a summary of the main inventions and discoveries throughout history. Focus on the evolution of a particular instrument, especially one used by a dental assistant. Examine when dentists began using assistants and why. How has the role of assisting a dentist changed over the years?
Consult abstracts of published dental research studies and evaluate their findings. Speculate on the future of dentistry and how your job as a dental assistant might change. Add a brief overview of the past role of dental assistants to show how the job has changed over the years and to show the direction it might continue to take in the future.
Research how insurance affects the job of the dental assistant. Look into both how the patient's insurance changes their care and how liability insurance influences your job. Explore why liability insurance might be important for a dental assistant and what could happen without it. When did liability insurance become an issue for dental assistants?
Research the relationship between the patients, the dental assistant and the dentist. How do patients feel about the dental assistants compared to dentists? Do patients have stigmas or preconceived notions about dental assistants? Look for research studies on patient perception and feelings toward the professionals in the dental office.