I've never had my wisdom teeth pulled, but once I had to have a root canal and a crown done to one of my front teeth...
With NO novacaine or pain-killer of any kind.
The tooth was so infected and impacted that the dentist asked me if I even wanted a shot, since the nerves were probably numb anyway, or should he just start drilling until I felt something. I said to start drilling, and he kept asking "do you feel anything yet," and I kept saying "huh-uh."
Finally he told me he had drilled clear through the tooth and was beginning the draining process. I never felt a fuckin' thing.