The injection procedure as a source of stress for dentists.

A questionnaire was mailed to 3,000 practicing dentists to inquire about their physical and psychological responses to injecting local anesthesia; 711 dentists completed questionnaires (a 24 percent response rate). Six percent of respondents considered their thoughts and feelings associated with injection to be a serious problem; two percent reported no negative reactions to this aspect of clinical practice. Reported reactions to various anesthetic procedures were compared, and the various responses are discussed. Injection of local anesthesia, rarely discussed in the literature, contributes significantly to overall stress of dentists, but not all dentists.