A syringe (10) for dispensing anesthetic from a cartridge (30) having an interior wall defining a hollow interior sized and shaped for receiving a dose of anesthetic, and a piston (42). The syringe includes a tubular plunger (50) slidably received in the hollow interior of the tubular cartridge. The plunger has a hollow interior extending between a distal end shaped for engaging the piston and an open proximal end. The syringe includes a plunger rod (54) slidably received in the hollow interior of the tubular plunger. The rod has a sharp distal (58) end adapted to penetrate the piston, a proximal end, and a length extending between the distal end and the proximal end sized so a delivery portion of the rod extends through the piston into the cartridge when the rod is driven through the piston. The delivery portion includes a recess (64) for receiving a buffering agent (13) to reduce acidity of the dose of anesthetic.
