Medical emergencies or unexpected events are situations that all dental practitioners are trained to face, yet none hope they become a reality. Although they occasionally happen, the prevalence is rather low. This special article will touch on three aspects: before, during and after an unexpected event happening in a general dental practice. Emphasis will be given on the ‘during and after’ phases, which includes the activation of basic life support when necessary, and the documentation that a dental practitioner needs to prepare in the event of adverse outcome despite of efforts made to prevent and manage it.