Research EC

Most people that do research don't do anything dental-related, just something science-related. Adcoms don't care what kind of research you do as long as you get something out of it and are able to explain what you've done in your app and during an interview.
As far as being beneficial for dental school, it definitely can't hurt your app and some research-heavy dental schools like seeing applicants with prior experience. Check the science departments at your university to look for research opportunities.

 

Radiation biology research... irradiating mice legs... ct scanning them... and quantifying the data.

It just so happens by pure coincidence that it was the same procedure used to check for implant eligibility.

 

All of my pre-health friends did undergraduate research, and most of the research topics have no direct relationships with medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy.
I did my research in nano hydrogels.

 

I'm doing research in aging using nematodes, and as we all know, they don't have teeth

For what I can tell, it's doesn't seem important that it is not dental related. I am having fun with it and I feel like research is a lot like detective work, you are always looking for who done it

When choosing a lab, for me it was more important that the lab had a good "vibe". And in fact, it turned out to be a good learning and growing environment. I really like my lab mates!

To look for research opportunities search professors on your school website (Search profs. in Bio, Biochem, Medicine, Dental, Pathology, Chemistry Departments, etc). Many of them have their own lab and most have also a lab website where you can find out what the do, or you can search them on pubmed too and read their abstracts. If it sounds interesting to you, then send them an email telling them you are interested and why (be specific, refer to a project or paper), attach your resume and transcript, and ask if there are any opportunities and say that you would like to meet for an interview, and end email with if not available to keep you in mind or forward it to someone they know that are doing similar research and looking to hire.

Schools also might have an undergraduate research program/advising where you can have questions answered and find research jobs posting. Also, there may be at your school e-mailing lists that you can sign up to receive departamental or advising news, and they would post research jobs, as well as scholarships and other opportunities.

 

I was fortunate enough to do dental research, but like the others have said: any research is good research, there are plenty of people who have little to no experience in the area so do whatever you can to make yourself stand out.