I just needed a local anesthetic. They numbed my gum with some soaked cotton wool before using the needle. Then I just closed my eyes while they pulled it and sewed it up. It was creepy, but they knew what they were doing. The only thing I didn't like is when the dentist took the nurse and told her "Don't grab my hand when I doing that. The needle could have gone right through the gum!" A little too close to the patient, thank you!