First use:
It was a dark and stormy night.
Okay, it actually wasn't stormy, and it wasn't technically "night", seeing that it was two in the morning, but it WAS very, very dark. Not a creature was stirring, not even my
Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse, when I crept to the bathroom to try out my new toothbrush. I had read all the instructions twice, and having waited the minimum two hour charging period, I was ready.
Fearlessly, I pushed the shiny button until a green light appeared beside the Max Care routine. None of that sissy "sensitive" or "one minute" stuff for me - I wanted it all!! With a steady hand, I wet the bristles and applied some toothpaste, then confidently pressed the green button......
..... and nearly jumped out of my skin.
It was noisier than I thought it would have been, or maybe it was all in my head, as no-one else seemed to have heard the sonic whine, even in the wee hours of the morning. Starting with the bottom teeth, I gently moved the brush head in the back and forth motion as directed. It tingled with a sensation that was strange and a little uncomfortable. After 45 seconds of "clean" and "massage", the Quadpacer signal indicated it was time for a change of location, as it did faithfully three more times.
Observations:
1. The tingling will take some getting used to. According to the booklet, the power will increase after this for 13 more brushings, by which time I will have grown to love the sensation.
2. Toothpaste is flying everywhere. I try closing my mouth, but then I can't brush the front teeth properly. It's running down my chin too.
3. The standard brush head feels big in my mouth, I think I'll try the compact head next time.
4. My teeth really feel clean afterwards. They actually feel "dentist clean". Maybe this gadget works after all.
5. I'll let the charging process continue and play with it some more tomorrow.
Second use:
The brush is now fully charged.
I switched over to the compact head, set it to "Clean" mode and turned it on. It didn't seem so loud any more, and the tingling wasn't that bad. I was able to maneuver the compact head a lot better, and not so much toothpaste escaped. When using the brushing modes, the toothbrush turns itself off at the end of the brushing cycle. I had just begun to enjoy myself, so I started it again, this time switching to Sensitive mode and Massage mode. Way cool.
Conclusions:
Pros -
1. This toothbrush gives you "dentist clean" with every brushing
2. There are five options for personalized brushing - 3 modes and 2 routines
3. It breaks you in gently to the new sensation
4. You have a choice of two brushing heads with caps
5. It's easy to set up and easy to use
6. There's a gauge to tell you when it needs recharging
7. It comes with a small charger for when you're traveling, and a case for the toothbrush
8. It has a UV sanitizer to zap any germs that dare to live on your brushing head, and may possibly be used to clean some models of the Oral B brushing heads you may be using in other toothbrushes. NOTE: The manual says you should only clean Sonicare ProResults brush heads in the sanitizer, but the Sonicare website lists four types of brushes that can be cleaned. I don't know which is correct.
9. The base of the sanitizer/charger has a groove where you can tuck away some of the power cord so it doesn't dangle in loops from the point.
10. It looks professional
Cons -
1. It takes some getting used to, particularly if you have sensitive teeth
2. This is basically a one person model, especially if you want to use both brushing heads yourself, but it comes with color code rings, so that if two people are sharing, you can code the brushing heads and store them in the UV sanitizer.
3. The standard brush is a bit big for smaller mouths
4. Replacements for the compact brush aren't yet available for sale, and heads need to be changed every 3 months.
5. The toothbrush doesn't fit firmly into the charger base, and I had to check to make sure I put it on correctly. The toothbrush doesn't balance well standing up with the brush head and cap attached.
6. It's a bit pricey, but worth it in the long run when you consider the cost of regular professional cleaning
Overall, I'm very happy with this toothbrush, and look forward to using it for a long time to come.
Rated: 4.5 stars
Amanda Richards, September 29, 2007