Dental Assistant

This person is expected to provide dental assistant services during the dental care to all Guests and Crew members who need it. The dental assistant shall help the dentist in all shipboard dental health-related matters including responding to dental emergencies. Will also work with the rest of the medical team as part of the health team under the leadership of the Senior Doctor. To consistently exceed guest expectations and provide the highest levels of product and services, additional duties and responsibilities may be assigned as needed.

Responsibilities:

The dental assistant shall understand the Safety and Quality Management System (SQM) for Royal Caribbean ships and Quality, Environmental and Safety Management System (QESMS) for Celebrity ships, including responsibilities in the Safety Organization according to the Emergency Plan and Station Drill.

  • Help the Dentist including completion of dental forms/reports and the dental equipment and supply inventory.
  • Ensure confidentiality of dental-medical information.
  • Provide dental hygiene education to the crew as directed by the dentist/ DDS.
  • Assist the DDS in carrying out all professional responsibilities and duties.
  • Provide dental assistant level of care for minor and major dental emergency situations for passengers and crew.  
  • Provide dental hygiene and cleaning to patients.
  • Operate basic dental instruments as instructed by the DDS.
  • Remove residual debris from dental equipment, clean and sterilizedental equipment.
  • Examine oral cavities for signs of dental illness.
  • Write records of dental care in our electronic medical recordsystem.
  • Keep dental equipment and instruments in good condition.
  • Keep the workplace clean, tidy and in order.
  • Takevital signs of patients. Will report to the DDS any abnormal findings and makea record of these in the electronic medical record system.
  • Inaddition to assisting the dentist with patient care, dental assistants have avariety of administrative responsibilities in relation to care of guests andcrew and management of the dental Facility and pharmacy.
  • Generally,it is the responsibility of all dentists and dental assistants to become fullyversed with the policies and procedures of the ship as well as the requirementsof the DDS under whom the nurse will serve. Each nurse will serve at scheduledtimes on a medical "on call" roster each day.  During this period, the nurse will assist thedoctor on duty.
  • Whenany member of the medical staff receives a telephone call or otherwise becomesaware of a potentially serious guest or crew medical issue outside establishedoffice hours, that contact or telephone call should be followed-up by an"in person" visit with the patient by a member of the medical staff,which should then be documented accordingly in medical records. For thisreason, the dental assistant will inform the DDS and the on-duty doctor of anyof such occurrences and make the necessary annotation in the electronic medicalrecord system.
  • The dental assistant must participate in all lifeboat and emergency drills held on board unless excused by the Staff Captain.
  • The dental assistant must also assist in maintaining a proper inventory level of pharmaceutical and medical and dental supplies, and prepare requisitions as needed for the doctor's signature. The inventory of pharmaceuticals aboard the ship must be conducted on a weekly basis as well as whenever there is a change in medical personnel aboard ship.  Risk Management and the Director or Medical Operations should be advised of any substantial missing items or supplies.
  • The dental assistant will receive a copy of the nurse’s narcotic keys.
  • The dental assistant will prepare any reports and documents as requested by the DDS.
  • The dental assistant must follow the doctor's instruction with respect to inspection of dental equipment and supplies. He/she must follow the dentist’s ordersfor daily or weekly inspection of dental equipment and supplies.
  • The dentalassistant must ensure that all expired medications, supplies, or materials areremoved from the shelves and are disposed of according to environmentalpolicies or, if applicable, return them to the vendor in case that any item hasany refund value.
  • Thedentist will require daily inspection and testing of all battery-operatedequipment in the Dental Facility.
  • Maintain current dental records for all crew members and passengers.   
  • Assist the dentist in the creation of any report logs for accidents that involve an injury to the teeth.
  • Maintains current Crewmember physical examinations.
  • Prepares and maintains records of dental charges.
  • Sterilizes surgical instruments.
  • Orders dental supplies and equipment. Maintains proper levels of inventory through us of the AMOS ordering system.
  • Properly disposes of hazardous wastes and used sharps (needles, syringes).
  • Properly fills out and distributes all forms associated with the dental department.
  • Prepares and submits a list of accidents/injuries by department for the monthly Crew Safety and Environmental Committee meetings.
  • Executes and has a good working knowledge of all paperwork associated with the operations of the Medical Center as these may relate to any Dental Facility operations.
  • Performs other related duties as assigned or as directed. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position.
  • Support the dentist and the medical team in any emergencies.

Qualifications

  • Current and in good standing Dental Assistant licensing.
  • Minimum of three (3) years post-graduate clinical experience is required in the fields of general dentistry assistance.
  • Intermediate to Advanced verbal and written level of Englishis required.
  • Must provide a chronology of all dental activities since graduation from dental assistant school.

Education

  • Degree in Dental Assistance
  • Valid dental assistance license from country or State/Province of origin is required.

Physical Requirements

  • While performing the essential functions of this job, all team members are required to stand; walk long distances on the ship; use hands to touch, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms; talk, hear, taste and smell.  All vessel positions require repetitive motion of bending, climbing, going up and down stairs and being able to lift 50 pounds. This job requires specific vision abilities to include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
  • All team members must be physically able to participate in emergency lifesaving procedures and drills. All vessel positions require full use and range of arms and legs as well as full visual, verbal and hearing abilities to receive and give instructions in the event of an emergency including the lowering of lifeboats. 
  • Work within different temperature changes—indoors to outdoors.
  • Able to pass basic safety course.
  • This is a minimal description of duties. Other work requirements may be necessary and assigned as business or maritime law dictates.