Does it hurt when the dentist slices your gums open to attach a bracket to a tooth because the tooth is in your gums?

It depends on you. They give you something to numb the pain so you feel a small amount of pressure on your gum maybe a pinch but nothing serious. Some people, however, do not respond to the medicine given and feel a great amount of pain. That is rare though. Most people respond to the chemical they give you in one form or another.

.

Fun Fact: The numb feeling makes some people feel as if their throat is swelling "shut". They may be afraid that you will no longer be able to breathe, or that you will choke or suffocate. Others also worried that the numbness means that they won't be able to swallow or carry out other motor functions. There is one thing people need to understand:

Local anaesthetic at the concentrations used in dentistry doesn't effect motor nerves at all. Movement and swallowing are also unaffected.