Sonicare PL-4 (4700) Sonic Toothbrush

Other products by Sonicare

Product Features

• Reverses gingivitis
• Cleans with a combination of 31,000 brush strokes per minute and gentle sonic waves
• Removes nearly twice as much plaque between teeth as a manual toothbrush
• Reduces plaque bacteria in hard-to-reach areas between teeth
• Gentle on gums and even sensitive teeth

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

By combining 31,000 brush strokes per minute and gentle sonic waves, Sonicare electric toothbrushes scrub away decay-causing plaque from between teeth and along gum lines better than ordinary toothbrushes. Two full-refund guarantees are offered on this model (30-day satisfaction guarantee and 90-day improved-care guarantee), plus a 2-year warranty on the handle against defects.

This is Sonicare's top-of-the-line model, offering all available features: an interval timer that beeps every 30 seconds to encourage thorough cleaning of each mouth section; an automatic shutoff after 2 minutes to indicate when cleaning time attains the recommended duration (the brush can be restarted); a ramp-up that gently increases brushing power during the first 12 uses to reduce soreness for people unaccustomed to thorough cleaning (this feature can be turned off); and a recharge indicator light that signals when charging is needed and when it's in progress. This model serves three family members with their own brush heads; it comes with two compact heads and one ultra-compact head with a longer shaft and fewer bristles for better maneuverability (great for kids). A countertop holder for brush heads not in use and a three-slot brush-head travel case are included. The power handle holds a charge for about two weeks. --Fred Brack

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.2 x 8.2 x 6.8 inches ; 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• ASIN: B000050AUD
• Item model number: 325104
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (72 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #104,558 in Health & Personal Care (See Bestsellers in Health & Personal Care)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hype is True: Six friends and I love this toothbrush!, August 20, 2002

By	Groovy Vegan (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Fall 2001 Dental Visit, before Sonicare: My dental hygienist gave me the plaque lecture about how I need to brush better. My gums bled a little. :-(

Spring 2002 Dental Visit, after using Sonicare for 5 months: My hygienist complimented me on the great job I'm doing. No plaque nor bleeding gums. :-)

I'm achieving much better results with the Sonicare than with manual brushing, for 2 reasons: First, there's no way I come close to 31,000 brush strokes per minute by hand. Second, I rarely brushed for 2 full minutes with a manual toothbrush. I like the 30 second timer beep feature for each quadrant of the mouth, and brush them in this order: upper outer surface, lower outer, bottom teeth chewing surface + inside, upper teeth chewing surface + inside. Then I go in for overtime and brush my upper and lower gums. When I'm done, I hold the brush bristle side down and push the on button to wisk off the water. Every time I use the Sonicare, my teeth and gums feel professionally cleaned. Plus it's fun to use and I like the fact it has a plastic cover for the bristles.

I took the Sonicare on vacation for a week, and it held its charge just fine.

My main complaint is that the battery is not replaceable, forcing people to replace their Sonicare after several years and filling up the landfills with more toothbrushes than necessary. I grumble about the cost of new brush heads, but this toothbrush is so good, it's well worth the cost. BTW, it's important to regularly unscrew the toothbrush head and rinse off toothpaste that's accumulated between the nut and the head, as recommended in the instructions.

P.S. I have 6 friends who also have a Sonicare. I asked each one how they liked their toothbrush, and they all raved about it and the excellent results they're experiencing.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product but don't forget ..., December 7, 2000

By	Jim (O'Fallon, MO, USA) - See all my reviews

This is the best electric toothbrush I've ever owned. I'm not sure if I can name the other brands but I've used the popular names. I like this one for a few reasons. (1) It was recommended by my dentist who said it was safe for dental work. (2) It works very well. Cleans you teeth as well as an office visit. (3) You can use any tooth paste. One of my previous electric toothbrushes I had to use their paste. I did not and damaged the gears in the hand unit. (4) It cleans your teeth very well (had to say it again). I am amazed at how well this product works. Remember when you are considering purchasing this product that Sonicare recommends changing the brush heads every 6 months so there is an addition cost involved. I suggest the PL-4 since you get 3 brush heads.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars expensive but worth it, December 7, 2000

By	Gaylin Walli (Royal Oak, MI USA) - See all my reviews

There are two things I really hate doing. One is going to the dentist. The other is cleaning my oven. Fortunately, I can get my husband to clean my oven, but I can't get him to go to the dentist for me. I've never liked going, and in fact, have been known to avoid it for 7 years at a stretch.

Since we purchased this toothbrush, I've had the opportunity to use the PL-1 (thanks to the removeable brush heads, using a friend's toothbrush is no longer an issue). The pauses in vibration over the course of two minutes that the PL-4 gives is a great boon for me. I like it better than the simple shutoff of the PL-1 after two minutes. When I use the PL-1, I tend to rush through my brushing and find that I'm done before the toothbrush is. When I use the PL-4, I'm much better at completely brushing each section of my mouth and I find that I'm much more likely to continue brushing even after the unit has turned off just in case I feel I've missed a spot or two. I don't do that with the PL-1 model.

Getting used to a vibrating toothbrush was...interesting. For me, it tickled a bit. To be honest, it was rather startling at first to feel vibrations througout my mouth, on my gums especially, and a little into my sinuses because they're so near everything else in my head. Not painful, but very different. I suspect that people with tender mouths will really want to follow the directions they give you with the toothbrush to be sure they don't discourage themselves from using it again.

My teeth have always been reasonably healthy, but my gums have always been an issue for me. And going to the dentist in the past only created serious problems in that regard. That is, cleanings were excrutiating. I didn't want to go and I avoided it as often as possible. After two years of using this toothbrush, my teeth remain healthy with no losses or fillings, my gums have actually improved their health, cleanings are annoying but no longer unbearable, and my dentist thanks me. I've seen my xrays and they've shown improvement in bone health too. And while I don't fully understand how it's possible, I find it fascinating that simply changing a toothbrush can make this much difference.

My husband pushed us into buying this rather expensive "toy." At just under 100$US at the time we bought it, even the 20% off coupon we had didn't make me all that happy. I thought I'd regret paying that much money for something my dentist would give me for free, but having used the Sonicare PL-4 and seen the results for both of us, I can firmly say to friends and family that your dentist, your teeth, and your gums will thank you for spending this kind of money.