You mentioned that you often do not give anaesthesia for retreatments or teeth with non-vital pulps. Does placing the rubber dam hurt the patient?

I first test the fit of the clamp before giving anaesthesia. If the clamp grips the tooth too tightly or presses too hard on the gum, it can cause pain. I then adjust the clamp position or try a different clamp. I keep trying until I find a suitable clamp that does not hurt the tooth. Having a selection of clamps from different manufacturers, preferably of good quality, usually resolves this. If a clamp grips too tightly, it can cause a crack in the tooth or other problems. When a clamp is placed under anaesthesia and the patient cannot feel anything, problems with the tooth may arise later. For a patient who is particularly sensitive to pain, anaesthesia can be given after the clamp fit has been tested.