Dental Assistant

Dental Assistant

The role holder is expected to provide dental assistant services during the dental care to all Guests and Crewmembers
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.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Provide assistance to 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 sterilize dental equipment.
• Examine oral cavities for signs of dental illness.
• Write records of dental care in our electronic medical record system.
• Keep dental equipment and instruments in good condition.
• Keep the workplace clean, tidy and in order.
• Take vital signs of patients. Will report to the DDS any abnormal findings and make a record of these in the electronic
medical record system.
• In addition to assisting the dentist with patient care, dental assistants have a variety of administrative responsibilities
in relation to care of guests and crew and management of the dental Facility and pharmacy.
• Generally, it is the responsibility of all dentists and dental assistants to become fully versed with the policies and
procedures of the ship as well as the requirements of the DDS under whom the nurse will serve. Each nurse will
serve at scheduled times on a medical "on call" roster each day. During this period, the nurse will assist the doctor
on duty.
• When any member of the medical staff receives a telephone call or otherwise becomes aware of a potentially
serious guest or crew medical issue outside established office 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 this reason, the dental assistant will inform the DDS and the on-duty doctor of any
such occurrences and make the necessary annotation in the electronic medical record 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
the ship. Risk Management and the Director of 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 orders for daily or weekly inspection of dental equipment and supplies.
• The dental assistant must ensure that all expired medications, supplies or materials are removed from the shelves
and are disposed of according to environmental policies or, if applicable, return them to the vendor in case any item
has any refund value.
• The dentist will require daily inspection and testing of all battery-operated equipment 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 use of the AMOS ordering
system.
• Properly disposes of hazardous waste 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.
• Degree in Dental Assistance
• 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 English is required.
• Must provide a chronology of all dental activities since graduation from dental assistant school.