Fit note for dental issues?

bestcatlife · 2026-02-02T13:13:24+00:00

Hi, I had my bottom wisdom tooth extracted last week under sedation and I am still having symptoms of jaw pain, weakness/fatigue.. I do not feel well enough to return to work this week as my job involves a lot of talking, but feel confident I will be well enough by next week after I’ve finished my course of antibiotics. I requested a fit note from my Gp and it was refused on the basis it would need to come from a dentist.. my dental practice also refused and passed it back to the Gp. I now have a signed ‘note’ from my dentist however it’s not an actual fit note, they have advised my employer may not accept it. Just wondering if my employer would accept this? It’s signed, dated and states I am not fit to work for 5 days. (I already used my self certified days last week for the surgery and days following) does anyone know? thanks

BillieWiper · 02/02/2026 13:18

Well yes a GP doesn't know anything about teeth and has never examined anyone's teeth.
So yes, get the dentist to do it. They will definitely accept it.

RobinHumphries · 02/02/2026 16:31

Dentists can’t write fit notes

NiceCupOfChai · 02/02/2026 16:49

Of course it’s not the GPs job to write a fit note for a dental problem.

Original poster

bestcatlife · 02/02/2026 17:03

ah ok, didn’t know. Dentist said it wasn’t their job either… but sorted now (I think)!

OP posts:

KarenWheeler · 02/02/2026 17:05

I got a fit note from my GP for dental issues. Same problem as yours, pain after a wisdom tooth extraction, I ended up being signed off for 6 weeks. So a GP absolutely can sign you off for dental issues! I'd go back and request one again.

metalbottle · 02/02/2026 17:09

I'm a GP - in case you aren't sorted @bestcatlife or for others who find this, these are the issues:

Dentists can't sign official fit notes, they can just write a letter which some employers won't accept.
GPs don't know anything about teeth.
You can self-certify for one week and there is very little in the world of dentistry which requires you to be off for more than one week but doesn't involve a maxillofacial doctor (who can write a fit note), so a GP fit note is rarely needed.
People swing the lead a lot about needing time off work.

When patients ring me and say that they need a fit note for dentistry I give them the surgery email and tell them that I'll happily do it if I get an email from the dentist, on their work email, telling me what to write on it and how long they need off. I have never had such an email so can only conclude that people are largely exaggerating how long they need off........

Original poster

bestcatlife · 02/02/2026 17:18

@metalbottlei didn’t really think to ask the dental surgeon for a fit note as didn’t know how I was going to feel. Also thought it would be my GP id ask. I have a note from the dentist but it’s not a fit note, I just feel wiped out, went for a short walk and felt exhausted after. Think it’s the antibiotics making me feel like that. Don’t want anyone to think I’m lying so I’ll probably just go back to work and push through.

OP posts:

RobinHumphries · 02/02/2026 17:55

It’s not a fit note from the dentist because dentists can’t write fit notes.

KarenWheeler · 02/02/2026 18:04

metalbottle · 02/02/2026 17:09

I'm a GP - in case you aren't sorted @bestcatlife or for others who find this, these are the issues:

Dentists can't sign official fit notes, they can just write a letter which some employers won't accept.
GPs don't know anything about teeth.
You can self-certify for one week and there is very little in the world of dentistry which requires you to be off for more than one week but doesn't involve a maxillofacial doctor (who can write a fit note), so a GP fit note is rarely needed.
People swing the lead a lot about needing time off work.

When patients ring me and say that they need a fit note for dentistry I give them the surgery email and tell them that I'll happily do it if I get an email from the dentist, on their work email, telling me what to write on it and how long they need off. I have never had such an email so can only conclude that people are largely exaggerating how long they need off........

I most certainly wasn't exaggerating! My problem stemmed from an incompetent dentist who, instead of diagnosing an infection in my tooth, took my (non-painful) wisdom tooth out instead.

It's cost me nearly £2k in private dentistry and 6 weeks of lost wages to get it sorted!

Burntout01 · 02/02/2026 18:06

OP unless you have had major complications then its daft trying to justify two weeks off work for extractions. Just dose yourself up if still in pain and crack on!
I had all four wisdom teeth out under GA ( max fax due to complexity) had major swelling and pain and had a six month old at home to care for but even then only really needed a week off including day of surgery!

metalbottle · 02/02/2026 18:27

bestcatlife · 02/02/2026 17:18

@metalbottlei didn’t really think to ask the dental surgeon for a fit note as didn’t know how I was going to feel. Also thought it would be my GP id ask. I have a note from the dentist but it’s not a fit note, I just feel wiped out, went for a short walk and felt exhausted after. Think it’s the antibiotics making me feel like that. Don’t want anyone to think I’m lying so I’ll probably just go back to work and push through.

How would the GP be expected to know how long you need off work?

Thenthatsthatthen · 02/02/2026 18:43

I had just under two weeks off after mine were removed (by a max fac surgeon at the hospital but had some minor complications and got an infection ) so don’t be made to feel bad about needing the extra time off!

HR weren’t sure what to advise I did about not being able to get a sick note (surgeon wouldn’t do it as dentist was dealing with the complications not the hospital) but ultimately were happy with a detailed note from the dentist. Can you email your HR and see what they’ll accept?

metalbottle · 02/02/2026 19:06

Thenthatsthatthen · 02/02/2026 18:43

I had just under two weeks off after mine were removed (by a max fac surgeon at the hospital but had some minor complications and got an infection ) so don’t be made to feel bad about needing the extra time off!

HR weren’t sure what to advise I did about not being able to get a sick note (surgeon wouldn’t do it as dentist was dealing with the complications not the hospital) but ultimately were happy with a detailed note from the dentist. Can you email your HR and see what they’ll accept?

If the surgeon did the op and knew about the complications that's very unreasonable to refuse and I would complain.