I DO NOT have a high tolerance for pain and I had an impacted wisdom tooth extracted under local anesthetic. While I can't say it was completely a walk in the park, I made it through. I can't say I felt nothing, (I'd call it uncomfortable) but it wasn't searing pain or anything near that. In fact the most uncomfortable part it all was seeing smoke come out of my mouth (and smelling it!) as they sawed my tooth into pieces to dig it out!!
I guess what kept me going was knowing that it would end/there would be an end to it all, and no one ever died from from a tooth extraction!