The installation of a new air/water syringe onto a dental delivery system is a very straight-forward affair. Whether replacing an existing syringe or adding a new one, anyone can install a syringe in minutes.
Tools You Need for Installing a Syringe:
- Sleeve tool. A specialized tool used to slide the sleeve clamps over the tubing once connected to the barbs.
- Sharp knife. The sharper the better - a box knife, Exacto or something similar is preferred. Use this to trim the twin lines of the syringe tubing.
- Diagonal wire cutter or strong scissors. Only necessary if adding a syringe to a unit. This will be used to cut existing air and water supply lines so that the tubing for the new syringe can be attached.
We are assuming you're adding an extra syringe to your unit. You can skip this if simply replacing an existing syringe and jump to “installing the syringe” below.
Adding a Syringe to a Delivery Unit
When adding a syringe to a unit, in addition to the syringe, you’ll also need syringe tubing and two barb tees. Our sku #14-61 configures with either small or large barbs, so you can splice into any size line. When purchasing tubing, we suggest 5’ to 7’ for a typical length. Always measure your existing lines or the distance from your source of air and water to the patient. When in doubt, a little extra is always a good idea.
STEP 1:
Once you have everything, open your unit and find a live air and water line. The lines are typically color-coded (water lines are blue and live air lines are yellow). Some units use different colors. A typical unit is pictured below:
STEP 2:
There are typically several air and/or water lines that are viable within any unit. Detach the lines from valves before cutting to see if there is pressurized air or water in the line. If there is, they will be good lines to use. If possible, you can also splice into an existing syringe air and water lines. This always works.
STEP 3:
Turn off your unit and exhaust the line pressure by running a handpiece or holding down both buttons on your existing syringe until flow stops. Next, cut the air and water lines using a scissors or wire cutter. Screw the correct size barbs into your barb T’s (making sure to use the washers) to match the lines you’ve identified.
In the above example, the smaller water line has a 1/8” o.d. and the larger air line has a 1/4” o.d. One T needs to be configured with all small barbs, and the other with 2 large and one small barb. Syringe tubing consists of two small lines, so you’ll always need at least one small barb on your T's.
STEP 4:
Slide the appropriate sleeve clamp over each end of the tubing you’ve just cut. NOTE: One side of the sleeve clamp has a bevel. When attaching tubing to a metal barb (as in our example), the beveled end should be facing towards the barb. Dip the end of the tubing in hot water and lubricate the barb with a little silicone lubricant or a similar material. Slide the tubing over the barbs - pushing the tubing on a little over half way. Using a sleeve tool, slide the sleeve clamps over the tubing and barbs. With the sleeve clamp pushed on, push the tubing to fully seat over the barb.
STEP 5:
Next, using a sharp knife, score between the lines of the syringe tubing and pull the two lines apart for a few inches. Then, use your knife to trim the excess material from the tubing.
STEP 6:
Once you trim the excess material, slide a sleeve clamp over each of the individual lines of your syringe tubing. IMPORTANT: Now that you have your air/water syringe tubing connected to your air and water lines, DO NOT CONNECT YOUR NEW SYRINGE YET. First, feed the syringe tubing through an access hole in the bottom of your unit.
STEP 7:
Now that the tubing has been fed through the unit, separate and trim the two lines you did before. Be careful not to split the tubing too far. While this end goes inside the syringe handle, only a few inches will be hidden. Do NOT split the tubing more than an inch or two.
Installation of the Air/Water Syringe
STEP 1:
For those of you replacing an existing syringe, at this time, shut your delivery unit off and depress both buttons of your existing syringe until all flow stops.
STEP 2:
Unscrew the syringe handle and cut the tubing as close as possible to the syringe head. Discard the old syringe and handle.
STEP 3:
Trace the lines of the syringe tubing, to identify individual air and water lines.
STEP 4:
Once the lines are separated and trimmed, slide a sleeve clamp onto each line. Slide the sleeve clamp a little farther down on the water line than on the air line (this helps you keep track of which line is which). The barbs on your new syringe are metal, so you’ll want the beveled end of the sleeve clamp facing the end of the tubing (where the syringe attaches).
STEP 5:
Unscrew the handle from your new syringe and slide the handle over the tubing. Next, attach the air and water lines of the syringe tubing to the barbs on the syringe head. The water line attaches the left-hand button (when looking at the back of the syringe head) and the air line to the right-hand side. Attach the water line first (push the sleeve clamp farther onto the tubing) by sliding it over the barb. Dip the end of the tubing in hot water and/or lubricate the barb with some silicone lubricant for easier installation. Slide the tubing about 1/2-3/4 of the way on. Then attach the air line using the same procedure.
STEP 6:
With both lines attached to the barbs, use a sleeve tool to slide the sleeve clamps over the tubing and barbs. Push the sleeves on the tubing the rest of the way onto the barbs.
STEP 7:
Slide the syringe handle up and hand-tighten it onto the head. Turn your unit on and test the syringe for function. Put the cover back on your unit and voila! You have a successful installation of a new air/water syringe!
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