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October 3, 2006...Kissimmee, FL
A look at the Endo Cartridge Syringe
A newer version of the PDL syringe came out on September 30, 2006. These photos and the letter that was emailed to customers are included below.
The Letter
Soon it will be 25 years (in February 2007) since the PDL syringe was introduced by Special Products, Inc. at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting.
Since then it has been used regularly in thousands of dental offices all over the U.S. and Canada.
It is not unusual to talk to dentists who are still using the syringe they bought in 1982.
Intraligamentary anesthesia is a way of injecting into the PerioDontal Ligament(PDL) under pressure adequate to flow anesthetic solution to the apex and thus to do block anesthesia for a single tooth whether this is to avoid children chewing on a numb lip or allowing adults to go back to work without a numb face.
There are instances when block anesthesia is not effective and a quick reinforcement of the anesthesia for endo has to be done without removing the rubber dam.
It is also very effective for intra-pulpal anesthesia.
Of course this can be done with a conventional syringe but awkwardly, and then only by dentists with strong hands and of course with the attendant danger of exploding glass.
The PDL uses a compound lever system to create the pressure and a ratchet catch pawl to regulate the volume injected.
Our reputation for reliability is not by accident.
Since the beginning I have sought to make the PDL Syringe a reliable and sturdy instrument and even now we are making improvements that add to that reputation.
It has been described as the "Sherman Tank" of dental instruments.
Dr. Bob Davis (Watsonville, CA) is quoted as saying that apparently the only way to ruin it is to drive over it with your car.
Not true. We've tried. Many times. To recoin a phrase "it takes a licking and keeps on clicking." :)
The current price is $289 ( less expensive in multiples ).
A little less than the pretty but flimsy aluminum syringes and a little more than the antiquated fear-inducing pistol style.
If you have one of the older models, you can upgrade the lever housing for $100.00.
The way this works is:
We hope that in the year 2032 dentists will be saying the same things about the syringes they or their present day predecessors bought back in '06.
In order to fulfill that hope, we have made several improvements to an already sturdy design.
We changed the axle mechanism on the handle to make it easier to change (should you accidentally step on it or run over it with a bull dozer.)
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Figure PDL02 |
We moved the catch pawl (the little device that keeps the plunger from bouncing back) down into the center of the lever housing instead of outside.
(Looks neater. Works better. Simpler design.)
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Figure PDL03 |
Then instead of welding it in or using a screw, we put it in with a sturdy rivet (technically with a drive screw).
We eliminated the handle-return coiled-wire spring (some of which ONLY lasted 15 years) and replaced it with a leaf spring.
Much sturdier and more secure, attaching it too, with a rivet.
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Figure PDL04 |
Now that 25 years has gone by, I'll let you in on two secrets that have made the PDL Syringe the standard of the dental profession.
First the barrel fits the anesthetic carpule very snugly keeping the glass from distorting under pressure and possibly shattering.
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Figure PDL05 |
Second, where the rubber diaphragm of the carpule fits in the nosepiece is flat thus preventing the pressure from ballooning the diaphragm outward causing leakage.
Adjunctive to this is the very small size of the needle hole.
We have kept the nosepiece and barrel separate.
Thus, if a carpule should break, it is a simple matter to unscrew the nosepiece and flush the broken glass into the waste.
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Figure PDL06 |
One of the little known but important techniques of intra-ligamentary anesthesia is the direction of the bevel of the needle.
Some say keep it toward the tooth.
Some say away from the tooth.
But when you think of it, they are both wrong.
Either plugs up the needle and requires a lot of pressure to start the flow.
The bevel should be at right angles to the root surface.
This requires turning the needle 90 degrees after insertion.
All you need to do is rotate the barrel to accomplish this. (Try that with the contra-angle on some imitator's designs.)
Some syringes make this one piece (presumably for esthetics), but break a carpule and it's next to impossible to remove the pieces.
And since the barrel is closed any breakage will be completely contained preventing injury to you or the patient.
The "clicker" as some pedodontists call our PDL Intraligamentary Syringe, allows the plunger to move exactly (0.056") 1/18 of a carpule dispensing exactly 1/20cc or 0.05cc per "click." Some "pistol" types have no such regulatory mechanism.
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Figure PDL07 |
But the biggest advantage of the PDL is the ergonomics of it.
You can hold it in any one of several positions depending on the part of the mouth being injected.
the pencil grip is the first choice of many for most injections but depending on whether the patient is sitting up or lying down you may choose to hold it in
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Figure PDL08 |
a thumb-palm grip or
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Figure PDL09 |
a reverse thumb-palm grip pointing the needle back towards yourself or
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Figure PDL10 |
hold it like chopsticks or even
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Figure PDL11 |
by making a fist around it.
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Figure PDL12 |
All of these positions allow either a fourth finger or thumb rest that the pistol type syringes do not allowing positional control for either intra-ligamentary or inter-osseous injections (it's easier to find the red spot when pointing a pen rather than a gun).
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Figure PDL13 |
And as our ads have shown, it is small enough to hide in the palm of your hand.
(Perhaps you remember the ads saying "you've got to hand it to us."
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Figure PDL14 |
The reason all this works is because of the unique pen design we originated in 1982 (many have copied it of late) that uses the compound lever system to drive the plunger 1/18 inch forward for each inch of downward lever movement allowing you to magnify your finger pressure by 18.
This allows a very slow feed of anesthetic into the periodontal ligament which is essential for patient comfort and safety.
We encourage you to call. Either Marian or myself will answer to help with your order or simply to answer questions.
In case you are wondering, this photo was taken at Morraine Lake (near Lake Louis, Alberta, Canada) and yes, the water really IS green...and clean.
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Figure PDL15 |
We even have generous trade-in deals on your old "pistol" type syringe or even an unrepairable competitor's copy of our original design.
We also offer clinic discounts for multiple orders.
Our phone number here in Kissimmee, FL is (800)538-6835 and we'll answer the phone any time we're here but for sure 8-5 Monday thru Friday.
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Figure PDL16 |
See http://www.betterendo.com/COURSE/FCECS.HTM for pictures or http://www.betterendo.com/SPI/ to order on line.
and of course my email address is above DrJack@BetterEndo.com
And of course if you don't want to here future information on our Fine Cut Endo Files, or the Fine-Cut Endo Contra-angle or the Cartridge Endo Syringe or any of the other products you can see at www.BetterEndo.com simply return this email with the subject changed to "remove".
Otherwise you are likely to get more information that may help you make dentistry easier and more fun.
Opt-In mailing list request: Federal law specifies that if you do not want email from a particular address that you can simply request to be off that list.
AOL goes one farther, it threatens to shut off the mail from any ISP that sends too many emails to AOL users even if they comply with that law.
Therefore we no longer send email to AOL users, and AOL users lose a lot of valuable information that can help their practice.
If you are an AOLer (or anyone else for that matter) and WANT to receive information in the future on any of these topics:
How to avoid file breakage and still prepare a canal in less than a minute.
How to seal and fill a root canal with an ADA certified material in less than a minute.
How to irrigate a canal without making it overlarge.
...and many more.
All you need do is click here:
March 29, 2006...Kissimmee, FL
Latest revision March 29, 2006
This syringe is the most common model but there is a new model which came out around the middle of 2005.
The differences are:
the catch pawl is now internal to the lever housing and is welded in place.
The return spring is no longer attached to the driver pawl with a screw but is also welded to the driver pawl.
There will be a newer, more sleek, version available by the end of April 2006.
Further Information:
The price for a single unit is $289US. Quantity discounts are available.
You can still get a trade-in on your old intra-ligamentary syringe (usually about $75) functional or not.
Upgrades of old syringes are available.
We do not do "repairs." We simply exchange your syringe for a new one. Usually this only involves the lever housing.
Parts such as nosepieces, barrels, plungers are available for purchase as separate items.
Available from Special Products, Inc., 2540 Greenwood Drive, Kissimmee, FL 34744
Phone number is (800)538-6835 Hours 8 am- 5pm. Eastern Time.
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Figure PDL17 |
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Figure PDL18 |
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Figure PDL20 |
E-mail your comments to drjack@BetterEndo.com
File Name is: PDLLetter.HTM
