The MadaJet XL Jet Injector is a device for administering anesthetics in some dental procedures such as seating crowns or deep scaling without a needle. Using a jet spray, it delivers the anesthetic into the gum tissue in a stream roughly the same diameter as one coming from a 25-gauge needle.

To use the MadaJet, the dentist or hygienist places the sheath that covers the tip gently but firmly and perpendicular to the gum tissue in the direction of the boney structures in the area to be anesthetized, then presses the delivery button. Stretching the tissues is unnecessary. Each of the jet injections delivers .1cc of an agent such as Xylocaine or Novocaine two centimeters into the gum tissues where it gets taken up by the myelin sheaths on the nerves in the form of tiny droplets at a higher rate of speed than a dose delivered by a needle. The area in question is numbed in about one millisecond, allowing the dentist to begin the procedure sooner rather than waiting for the anesthetic to take effect, leading to increased patient anxiety. While some procedures still require anesthetic delivered via needle due to the volume required, the MadaJet XL may be used to prepare the site for injection by numbing it.

                                                   

Preparing the jet injector for use on a patient involves using a needle to inject the fill chamber with the desired anesthetic agent, priming the head assembly by pressing the firing button to remove the air and introducing the agent. The injector is then cocked and fired to test it and make sure that it is working properly. It should be quiet. Any hissing noises or fuzzy streams may indicate a blockage in the tip.

Cleaning the MadaJet may be done in several ways. The Teflon sheaths that cover the tip should be changed between patients with used sheaths being placed in an autoclave or cold sterilization. The head assembly may be removed and placed in an ultrasonic cleaning device, or it may be placed in a steam autoclave. Between patients, the injector is placed in a holder filled with a disinfectant solution which is included with its purchase.  On a daily basis, any remaining anesthetic must be removed from the fill chamber and the tip soaked in the included disinfectant to avoid clogs and staining from the anesthetic. The manufacturer recommends an annual overhaul and inspection to prolong the life of the device.

On top of the anesthetic taking effect more quickly, the patient also experiences less anxiety and fear thanks to the needle-less delivery system. Patients with a history of cardiac disease benefit by the dosage being too small to create a systemic level of the anesthetic in the blood stream. The lower dosage and time saved reduce the costs of the procedure as well.

Fran Jablway,
Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Team Leader & CEO