Few dental procedures are potentially life-threatening. Note, however, that a dental extraction can result inpreventable death. Severe post-extraction bleeding can occur, which may give rise to an alarming situation if thereis any delay in detecting and managing the problem. The most immediate danger for a healthy patient with severepost-extraction hemorrhage is airway compromise. Acute airway obstruction from post-extraction hematoma isrelatively uncommon, but it may occur with fatal consequences if there is any reluctance to maintain the airwayclearance. Therefore, dentists and oral and maxillofacial surgeons should have clear understanding of the problemand measures to control it. Active bleeding that is not controlled by local measures in a dental office should bereferred to the nearest hospital emergency department as soon as possible for appropriate management.