Which type of burn typically causes the least pain?

The type of burn that typically causes the least pain is third-degree burns. This is because third-degree burns damage not only the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin but also the underlying tissue. The nerve endings in these lower layers can be destroyed, which results in a significant decrease in the sensation of pain in the area affected by the burn.

In contrast, first-degree burns, which primarily affect the outer layer of skin, and second-degree burns, which involve deeper layers and may blister, can be quite painful due to intact nerve endings and inflammatory responses. Thus, while the body experiences pain in the first two types of burns, the destruction of nerve fibers in third-degree burns leads to a lack of pain sensation, making it the correct answer.