Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Painless Local Anesthetic Injection Techniques among Undergraduate Dental Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Pain during local anesthetic injection is a major cause of anxiety in dental patients, especially children.Newer delivery techniques, such as computer-controlled local anesthesia systems (CCLADS), vibrotactile devices, and jet injectors, aim to reduce discomfort.Assessing undergraduate dental students' knowledge and attitude toward these techniques is important.Objective: To evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of dental undergraduates toward painless local anesthetic injection techniques.Materials and methods: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among final-year BDS students and interns at three private dental colleges in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.The questionnaire comprised 28 questions addressing knowledge and attitude regarding various painless injection techniques.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test to explore associations.Results: Most participants recognized that factors such as rate of injection, needle size, and temperature of anesthetic solution influence pain.Few participants were familiar with CCLADS and vibrotactile devices, while fewer knew of electronic dental anesthesia, single-tooth anesthesia techniques, or jet injectors.Most students expressed a positive attitude toward adopting painless injection methods and endorsed inclusion of these in the undergraduate curriculum. Conclusion: Dental undergraduates displayed fair knowledge and a positive attitude toward painless local anesthetic injection techniques, although awareness and exposure to advanced systems were limited.Enhancing curriculum content and providing hands-on training may bridge this gap and improve patient comfort in future practice.Clinical significance: Early exposure and structured training in painless local anesthetic techniques during undergraduate education can enhance clinical confidence, improve patient comfort, and reduce dental anxiety in future practice.