Can a Dentist Give a Sick Note in the UK?

Patients often ask: can a dentist give you a sick note in the UK?

The answer depends on what you mean by a “sick note”.

A dentist cannot currently issue the statutory UK Statement of Fitness for Work, usually called a fit note. However, a dentist may be able to provide a letter or other supporting evidence confirming your dental condition, treatment and relevant recovery advice.

For short absences, you will usually not need a fit note at all because employees can normally self-certify for the first seven calendar days.

What Is a Sick Note or Fit Note?

“Sick note” is the common name for a Statement of Fitness for Work, more commonly called a fit note.

A fit note is used when a health condition affects someone’s ability to work. It can state that the person is:

• Not fit for work, or
• May be fit for work if suitable workplace adjustments can be made

A fit note is therefore more than confirmation that you attended a healthcare appointment. It is a formal assessment of how your health affects your ability to work.

You can read the official GOV.UK guidance on sick leave and fit notes.

Can a Dentist Issue a Fit Note?

No. Under the current rules, a dentist is not one of the healthcare professionals authorised to issue a statutory fit note.

Fit notes can currently be certified by:

• Doctors
• Registered nurses
• Occupational therapists
• Pharmacists
• Physiotherapists

This means that even if your absence from work is entirely caused by a dental problem, the dentist treating you cannot issue the official fit note.

This is an important distinction because information online may sometimes refer to dentists providing a “sick note” when what is actually being provided is a dental letter, treatment confirmation or other supporting evidence, rather than a statutory fit note.

What Can a Dentist Provide for Your Employer?

A dentist may be able to provide written evidence relating to your dental treatment.

Depending on the circumstances, a dental letter might confirm:

• That you attended the dental practice
• The date of your appointment or treatment
• That you underwent a dental procedure
• Relevant clinical information where appropriate and with your agreement
• Recovery or aftercare advice
• Any temporary restrictions arising directly from your dental treatment

For example, following a difficult extraction or oral surgery, your dentist may be able to confirm the treatment provided and any relevant recovery advice.

However, a dental letter is not the same as a statutory fit note. Whether your employer accepts a dentist’s letter as sufficient evidence will depend on the circumstances and the employer’s sickness policy.

Do You Need a Fit Note for Seven Days or Less?

Usually, no.

If you are unable to work for seven calendar days or less, including weekends and bank holidays, you can normally self-certify your sickness absence.

You do not normally need medical evidence from a healthcare professional during this period.

Your employer may ask you to follow its sickness reporting procedure, for example by:

• Calling your manager
• Completing a self-certification form
• Reporting the absence through an HR system
• Confirming the dates you were unable to work

The seven-day period refers to calendar days, not just the days you would normally have worked.

Can Your Employer Ask for Evidence Before Seven Days?

A statutory fit note is not normally required during the first seven calendar days of sickness.

An employer can ask for other evidence, but this is different from the normal statutory fit-note requirement. If additional healthcare evidence is requested during the first seven days, there may also be a charge for providing it.

A dental practice may therefore be able to provide confirmation of attendance or a treatment letter if your employer specifically requests evidence. It is sensible to ask your employer exactly what they require before requesting additional documentation.

What If a Dental Problem Keeps You Off Work for More Than Seven Days?

If your dental condition affects your ability to work for more than seven calendar days, you may need a statutory fit note.

Because your dentist cannot issue one, you will need an assessment by one of the healthcare professionals authorised to certify fit notes.

An authorised professional can take account of written information from another healthcare professional when assessing your fitness for work. This means information supplied by your dentist may help support the assessment.

Relevant dental information might include:

• A significant dental infection
• Facial swelling
• Recent oral surgery
• A surgical extraction
• Treatment complications
• Ongoing dental pain
• Relevant recovery advice

The authorised healthcare professional would then make their own assessment of how your condition affects your ability to work.

Can a Dentist Give You a Sick Note After a Tooth Extraction?

A dentist cannot issue the statutory fit note, but they can advise you about recovery after an extraction and may be able to provide written confirmation of your treatment.

Whether you actually need time away from work depends on factors such as:

• Whether the extraction was simple or surgical
• The amount of swelling or discomfort
• Whether complications develop
• Whether you received sedation or anxiety medication
• The type of work you do

Someone working at a desk may have different recovery considerations from someone whose job involves heavy physical activity, driving or operating machinery.

If you have recently had an extraction, read our guide to bleeding after tooth extraction to understand what is normally expected during early healing and when to contact a dentist.

What About a Dental Abscess or Severe Infection?

A serious dental infection can cause significant pain, swelling and difficulty eating or sleeping and may make it difficult to work normally.

The dentist can diagnose and treat the underlying dental problem, but they still cannot issue the statutory fit note.

If your symptoms are severe or continue long enough to require formal certification of absence, you may need to speak to an authorised fit-note professional.

Do not delay dental treatment because you are concerned about obtaining paperwork for work. Severe toothache, a dental abscess or increasing facial swelling requires appropriate dental assessment.

Glow Dental provides emergency dental treatment for patients experiencing urgent dental problems.

What If You Have Dental Sedation or Take Diazepam?

Some dental treatments may involve sedation or medication that temporarily affects activities such as driving or operating machinery.

The restrictions depend on the medication and treatment used, so always follow the specific instructions provided by your dental team.

If anxiety is making dental treatment difficult, learn more about our care for nervous dental patients.

You can also read our guide explaining whether a dentist can prescribe diazepam and how oral anxiety premedication differs from formal dental sedation.

A temporary restriction on driving after medication or sedation does not automatically mean that you require a statutory fit note. Whether you can work will depend on your job, the treatment you received and the instructions given to you.

Is a Dental Letter the Same as a Fit Note?

No.

A fit note is a statutory Statement of Fitness for Work issued by an authorised healthcare professional.

A dental letter is supporting clinical evidence supplied by the dentist or dental practice.

A dental letter may be useful because it can confirm facts about your treatment or recovery, but your employer decides whether it will accept that evidence.

If your employer specifically requires a statutory fit note after more than seven days of absence, you may still need to obtain one from an authorised professional.

Can NHS and Private Dentists Issue Fit Notes?

The rules do not depend on whether the dentist provides NHS or private treatment.

Dentists are not currently authorised to certify statutory fit notes, so being an NHS or private dentist does not change this position.

Both NHS and private dental practices may potentially provide other supporting documentation about dental treatment.

Whether a fee applies to a non-statutory dental letter or report will depend on the practice and the document requested, so ask about any charge before requesting one.

Can a Dentist Sign You Back as Fit for Work?

There is normally no requirement to obtain a separate certificate stating that you are “fit for work” again.

If your fit note expires and you are able to return to work, you would normally do so without obtaining another certificate.

Some occupations have separate medical, regulatory or safety requirements, so different rules may apply in particular jobs.

Could You Return to Work With Temporary Adjustments?

A fit note does not always have to state that someone is completely unable to work.

An authorised healthcare professional can assess someone as “may be fit for work” and suggest temporary changes that could help them return.

Depending on the health issue and occupation, this could include changes to working hours or duties.

After dental treatment, it can also be helpful to discuss practical temporary restrictions with your employer where these are relevant to your job.

What Should You Do If Your Employer Wants Proof After Dental Treatment?

First, establish exactly what your employer requires.

• If you have been absent for seven calendar days or less, you will normally be able to self-certify.
• If your employer simply wants evidence that you attended a dentist or had treatment, ask whether confirmation of attendance or a dental letter will be sufficient.
• If you have been unable to work for more than seven days and your employer requires a statutory fit note, you will need an assessment from an authorised fit-note professional.

Your dentist may be able to supply supporting clinical information where this is required for the assessment.

Further information about who can issue a fit note is available from the NHS fit note guidance.

Can a Dentist Give a Sick Note? Key Points

• A dentist cannot currently issue the statutory UK fit note.
• Fit notes can be certified by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
• For sickness lasting seven calendar days or less, employees can normally self-certify.
• A dentist may be able to provide a letter confirming treatment or relevant recovery advice.
• Your employer may choose to accept a dental letter as supporting evidence.
• If dental problems keep you off work for more than seven days, you may need a statutory fit note from an authorised professional.
• An authorised fit-note issuer can consider written information from another healthcare professional when making their assessment.
• NHS and private dentists are subject to the same restrictions on issuing statutory fit notes.

Dental Treatment at Glow Dental

If dental pain, swelling or another problem is affecting your daily activities or ability to work, the first priority is to assess and treat the underlying dental condition.

Our team can examine the problem, explain the appropriate treatment and provide relevant documentation about your dental care where appropriate.

Learn more about our dental examinations, contact us about emergency dental care, or arrange an appointment at our Battersea dental practice.