Dentist

Crew Life at Sea Ltd.; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Crew Life at Sea Ltd. is seeking a qualified Endodontist to provide dental care for crew members and guests aboard a cruise ship.

You will report to the Senior Doctor and support shipboard medical operations, ensuring high-quality dental services and adherence to policy. Your role includes supervising clinic activities, managing appointments, handling emergencies, and maintaining confidential patient records within SeaCare.

Qualifications

• Three years minimum clinical experience in general dental care.
• Must have Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Must be a qualified endodontist.
• Three-year experience in simple dental procedures: extractions, restorations, fillings, and hygiene.
• English proficiency: intermediate to advanced.

Responsibilities

• Provide dental services to crew and guests onboard.
• Advise Master and Staff Captain on dental matters.
• Oversee clinic operations, appointments, and budget with secretary support.
• Respond to dental emergencies and assist in medical emergencies as needed.
• Document consultations and diagnoses in the electronic SeaCare system.
• Prescribe medications in accordance with company policy and SQM.

Skills

English

Education

Doctor in Dental Surgery / Dentist Degree

Active dental license

Specialty training in dentistry

BLS certification

Job description

Please note that only candidates with an Endodontist qualification will be considered for this role.

To provide dental services to all Crewmembers and, when required, Guests. The Dentist or DDS shall assist the Staff Captain and Senior Doctor in all shipboard dental health-related matters including dental hygiene education, dental hygiene campaigns, dental trauma management, dental emergencies management as limited by the onboard dental capabilities.

Essential Functions:

Reports directly to the Senior Doctor, and for medically related issues, reports directly to the Director of Medical Operations or the Chief Medical Officer.

Serves as advisor to the Master and Staff Captain on all matters related to dental services, Guest, and Crewmember dental health matters.

Holds a Basic Safety Course Certificate and appropriate licenses and certificates as required by regulations.

To be present during all clinic hours when on duty or as required by the demands of the clinic. Supervises and provides competent dental care to both Crewmembers and Guests as required, keeping the Master and Staff Captain advised of all matters of consequence.

Responds to dental emergencies and supports the medical team as feasibly possible in medical emergencies.

Manages dental appointments, with the support of the onboard medical secretary, in a way that avoids individuals waiting outside of the medical facility for dental services.

Oversee inventory of dental supplies and monitors dental budget. The DDS, together with the rest of the medical team, is responsible for the annual budgeting of the Medical Center's consumable supplies and medications.

Conserves a confidential relationship between dentist and patient. However, if the dentist suspects a serious contagious illness which could affect the well-being of others, the dentist will report directly to the Senior Doctor and shore side to the Director of Public Health, Director of Medical Operations and Chief Medical Officer.

Preserves a professional working atmosphere. This includes providing adequate privacy while examining patients.

The DDS will be able to prescribe controlled substances being responsible to follow company policy and our SQM policy which in compliance with United States Drug Enforcement Agency DEA. As such, the Dentist will support the medical team in contributing to oversee the administration and safekeeping of all medications and drugs in accordance with regulations and Company policy. At least once a month or when there is a change in medical staff, a drug count shall be held, which the Staff Captain or the Chief Security Officer shall be present to verify.

The dentist will receive a copy of the narcotics lock for the doctors, and the dental assistant will receive a copy of the key assigned to the nurses. For all Controlled Substances actions, and protocols, the dentist will follow the same procedures as a physician, and the dental assistant will follow the same procedures as the nurses.

The DDS 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 Bill.

The DDS shall stay in close contact with the Director of Medical Operations, Vice President of Medical Operations Administration and Chief Medical Officer as necessary and for all dental related methods and practices.

The DDS primary responsibility is the dental care of guests and crew members.

Performs other related duties as assigned or as directed. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor (Senior Doctor, Staff Captain, or Director of Medical Operations) from assigning duties that are logically related to the position or that the position could be of help.

The DDS will document in the patient's medical record the nature of the consultations, past medical or dental histories, physical examination findings, diagnoses and differential diagnosis, analysis of the cases, laboratory findings, referrals, plans of action, etc.

The DDS will write the respective clinical notes on our electronic medical records system SeaCare. As such, each dentist will receive credentials for the use of this program.

The DDS will follow the company billing practices accordingly.

The DDS is not authorized to waive medical or dental fees except in those cases where company policy specifically indicates that there are no medical charges. The Staff Captain or the Ship's Master are the only ones authorized to waive any dental or medical fees. In that case, this must be specified in the patient's medical record.

The dental assistant reports directly to the DDS, and the Medical Secretary will support the DDS in all administrative tasks as requested by the dentist.

Qualifications:

Three years minimum clinical experience, not including social or rural mandatory service, in general dental care setting, after completion of a recognized Dental training program is required.

Must have Basic Life Support BLS.

Must be a qualified endodontist.

Three-year experience in simple dental extractions, dental restorations, dental fillings, and oral hygiene procedures. Management of pain (be able to perform pulpectomy, incision and drain of abscesses, suture of wounds, and management of infections, and aesthetic urgencies.

Intermediate to Advanced verbal and written level of English is required.

Education:

Doctor in Dental Surgery or Dentist Degree from a recognized College or University is required.

Active, current dental license in good standing in Country or State/Province of origin is required.

Completion of a recognized dental specialty training program is required.

BLS training 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 up to 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.