Customer Reviews
Great purchase for couples. 
2008-10-09
My dentist told me these would be a great purchase for my dental health. Instead of buying it through him, I purchased this dual pack for much cheaper online. It's great for couples because each of you gets one, and you can share the charger. You only get one travel case, but that is not a big issue.
The brush is programmed for 2 minutes, but we add in the optional extra 30 seconds for more cleaning. It seems like a lot but it really does fly by.
Keep in mind you will have to stop multi-tasking when you use this brush. With a manual toothbrush, you can use both your hands to do something and the brush will stay in your mouth. But this brush is quite heavy and you will need to keep one hand on it at all times. Also, it's almost impossible to talk while using this brush.
The best testament to this product is that my teeth no longer feel clean after using a manual toothbrush. Use this in combination with floss and Listerine and your teeth (and dentist) will be very happy.
Planned Obsolescence 
2008-09-27
Here are two things Phillips will not tell you about their Sonicare toothbrushes and heads.
1) The collar that holds the toothbrush to the handle will disintegrate in a couple of months. That's what prompted this review, because they would not replace mine after it fell apart two weeks after purchasing a replacement.
They manufacturer these things to disintegrate so you will continue to buy replacements - planned obsolescence. However, I suspect their China supplier is skimping on the plastic specifications and they fall apart in weeks instead of months. (Do you think China would really do that?)
2) UNPLUG your base until you need to charge the toothbrush. If you charge it up overnight, then unplug the base, the toothbrush will work for four brushings per day for about a month. Then, when it signals or stops, plug the base in to charge it.
This method will allow your toothbrush to work for five years or longer. If you keep the base plugged in all the time, these NiCad batteries develop memory and will stop functioning after 18 to 24 months.
A bonus, if you travel a lot as I do, you don't have to pack the charger. Just make sure it's topped off and you're good for a month's vacation.
I made the switch from Oral-B Triumph... 
2008-03-29
I admit, I'm late in the game in switching to this particular model as there is now the more expensive FlexCare line with a more compact brush head and supposedly more powerful sonic brushing action. However, the price of the Sonicare is very, very attractive these days and if you look not too hard you'll find this same two-handle deluxe package at an even lower price at your local shopping warehouse club.
I've been an Oral-B Braun power toothbrush user for years constantly upgrading every two years for their latest toothbrush. I've generally been happy and I really can't complain much as any electric toothbrush is definitely a step up from manual.
So after two solid years of using the Oral-B Triumph model with exclusive use of their FlossAction brush head, I've decided to finally give in to the Philips Sonicare Elite side. Why did I make the switch?
I was drawn into the Sonicare line because I've been using a similar sonic product called Clarisonic for almost a year already. I was totally impressed with the effective cleaning ability and the smoothness it created on my skin. Furthermore, I was especially impressed with the 2-week battery life which gave a constant output from full charge to the end.
COMPARED TO ORAL-B:
My problem with Oral-B Triumph and their older line of power toothbrush is that at full charge the brush action is at it's best power. After a few days, you can tell how much the battery is getting drained and how weak the spinning action is becoming. The only solution of course is to keep it charged. But this is not always possible because I bring it with me when I travel for a few days and it would be cumbersome to bring even the charger when I want to save on space. Also even at home you would want to make full use of the fact that it's a rechargeable toothbrush that will help you charge once and save on electricity by constantly charging it after every use. Finally, it's still best to condition the battery by fully charging and discharging - which the manual suggests users do every once in awhile.
I don't know how Oral-B manages the power in the toothbrush, but from my experience it's best to charge it after 3-4 days of use. Otherwise, you won't get the same brushing speed and effectiveness.
I saw my dentist recently and he did commend how clean my teeth were. He even thanked me for making his job easier. HOWEVER, the problem he had was that he discovered two cavities. Two! After years of brushing with a power toothbrush, I finally get two cavities. The problem has got to do more with me and my eating habits. I became more daring and started to eat sticky sweets and neglected brushing until late in the day. I also decided on my own that the FlossAction brush head of Oral-B helped me actually floss less than twice every day. So here I am with amalgam in my tooth and a good wake up call. Still, even with it being my fault I still doubt the effectiveness of the FlossAction now and the ability to actually get in between the teeth in a powerful manner versus just grabbing a floss. My point is we need to floss anyway as part of the brushing habit, so why will I need to spend extra on the ubber expensive FlossAction brush head, when I need to spend on purchasing a good floss anyway.
ENTER SONICARE...
After the dental check up and cavity work, I decided to also invest in Sonicare this time. After 24 hours of initial charge and first month of use, I must say it's a different cleaning experience that feels more gentle to my teeth and gums.
My first few uses made me and my wife wonder if there was any effectiveness to the brushing action. The feeling left me wanting more power. Then I remembered that toothbrush is meant to increase in power gradually within the first 14 uses in order to sit in and get used to the sonic brushing experience.
The sonic brushing did get stronger and stronger as expected. At full power it feels like it's blasting away dirt particles that may have gotten stuck on the tooth. Unlike the Oral-B Triumph brush, there is the tingling sensation especially when the plastic part of the brush head comes into contact with your teeth.
The power is more constant from full charge up to the time it needs charging. You won't notice any waning brushing power unlike with Oral-B Triumph (which really is disappointing to feel as it loses it's charge). You can get two full weeks of use in between charging and this may help condition the battery better as well as save electricity by not having to leave the cord constantly plugged. (Although as a convenience and with two included handles, I leave one at the base full charged and alternate them every week.)
THE SONICARE ELITE 9000 HANDLE...
It honestly could be more ergonomic and better shaped. However, it's practically light versus Oral-B Triumph that a kid would be more comfortable in using the Sonicare handle than any other.
The controls are simple and the light indicator couldn't be more effective. You have two buttons. One power the toothbrush and the other to switch between a more gentle cycle. If you want to program the toothbrush, you simply use those two buttons and watch the led indicator light to tell you what mode you are at based on it's position. Furthermore, this same led light will tell you the charge indicator status as well as how much power is left.
The good thing about this light is that it will come on only when it needs to thus helping lengthen in-between charges. On the other hand Oral-B Triumph has this fun, but ridiculous display which is constantly on even if it isn't docked at the base. 24/7 the Triumph handle will display the battery status in monocrhome-hard-to-see graphic form versus a simple bright green led light which comes on to alert you for a few seconds only after every use. Simple and ingenius. No need for a constant battery drain which could be used more toward powering the toothbrush head than the display.
THE ELITE BRUSH HEAD...
I must admit it was a little turn off at first to feel it so flimsy on my teeth. I was used to the Oral-B FlossAction head which was more pronounced and bulky. However after the Sonicare started to gain full power, I understood why it was designed as such.
I appreciate how gentle yet powerful it can act. My teeth feel squeaky clean that I'm only hoping this is what the dentist will also see on my next visit.
Philips used to advertise to change brush heads every 6 months. I was impressed they could design one to last twice as long as regular competitor heads. And then suddenly with the release of their FlexCare line all packaging including the Elite replacement heads state to replace every 3 months. So I don't know if this was a marketing gimmick, the realization that they need to make more money in half the time, or that people were complaining of bacteria build-up and foul odor from collecting water.
HERE'S THE PROBLEM...(especially why I didn't give it 5 stars)
Unlike Oral-B's design, Philips Sonicare design is poor in terms of maintenance. Water and toothpaste can and will enter the crevices of the head and handle. The brush and handle don't screw in together to form a water proof experience. (Versus Oral-B's simple design of having a metal rod stick out from the body and have the brush head insert into that rotating rod to create the brushing action.)
What happens is that if you don't disassemble one from the other, you get build-up of old and stale water, saliva and toothpaste. Yes, it's really that gross. So the solution is to disassemble the head from the body periodically. My personal solution is to just keep the head and body disassembled and cleaned after every brushing. It may appear more cumbersome, but it's easier to let water run thru both each and every time than to wait for residue to build up and for foul odor to occur.
Of course the solution was solved with the introduction of their latest FlexCare line which imitates the construction of Oral-B, but still maintaining the sonic ability. This is great news actually since less maintenance is required. However, with it's current price point I would rather not be the first to invest this time and just wait until even more kinks are sorted out and a better offer is brought to the market. And as we've seen they always lower the price, introduce an upgraded line and with more accessories. So until then I will enjoy my Sonicare purchase at an price unimaginable a year ago.
INCLUDED ACCESSORIES...
2 brush handles.
3 brush heads - 2 full size heads and 1 compact.
1 charging base to share among the two provided handles.
1 small plastic container to hold two brush heads in case you have more than two people sharing the handles. More importantly, that's where I place the brush head everyday to keep them separate from the handle while I air dry both after every brushing.
1 compact travel case which is okay for only 1 person since it holds 1 handle and only 1 brush head. They should be able to provide a travel case that case house 1 handle and 2 brush heads. Oral-B was smart enough to supply me with this kind of case for my Triumph purchase. This way me and my wife are able to bring only one travel case. The Sonicare case doesn't allow for another head which makes me end up purchasing yet another compact travel case, thus making the experience not compact anymore.
CONCLUSION...
So you can see why this toothbrush as a whole with accessories and design flaw of not being waterproof does not earn perfect 5 stars.
However, after experiencing the sonic brushing method. I don't think I will end up coming back to Oral-B's products with it's inefficient power-hungry display and short battery life.
I can only wait a year later until the FlexCare lowers in price and then I will upgrade within the Philips line.
All in all a very worthy and wise purchase especially if you are able to grab one from warehouse clubs.
Best Toothbrush ever 2008-01-23
This is the best toothbrush I have ever owned. It gets your teeth SUPER clean. You find yourself wanting to brush over and over, because the second you get anything on your teeth you feel it. That's how clean it gets them. I would definitely reccommend this product to anyone. My only regret is that I waited so long to get one.
Worth every penny 2008-01-07
Although this product may be considered expensive by many, if you are interested in the best available personal dental care product, this is for you. Each handle (two included) times your brushing by signaling (beeps) when to move to the next quadrant of your mouth, but I find that the American Dental Association recommended brushing time of two minutes seems too short so I end up brushing for two cycles, a full four minutes. Spend the money, what you spend on this will be saved at the dentist office. I also purchased the sanitizer which assures a perfectly sterile brush is always available. Great product, don't bother looking elsewhere...
A great investment for health teeth and gums 2007-12-20
Philips Sonicare Elite 9650, the Custom Care system, includes two handles, three brush heads, a brush head holder, and a travel case. The new Custom Care System offers two speeds and two brush head sizes for more individualized brushing. The Elite 9650 has patented sonic technology. Sonicare's unique dynamic cleaning action gently and effectively reaches deep between teeth and below gumline for a brushing experience unlike any other. It's the only sonic toothbrush with a slim angled neck, contoured-fit bristles and ultra high speed bristle speed for greater plaque removal in hard to reach areas. Sonicare is the #1 personally used and recommended brand by U. S. dental professionals. With the Sonicare Elite's superior cleaning technology you'll have naturally whiter teeth and healthier gums, guaranteed. Included Accessories: 2 handles, 2 standard brush heads, 1 compact brush head, 1 brush head holder, 1 charger base
Well worth the price 2007-10-24
I'll keep this quick. It's a fantastic toothbrush. My teeth feel noticeably cleaner and some redness and swollen areas in my gums has almost disappeared within one week of use.
Better than the original 2007-09-30
This is our second set of Sonicare toothbrushes. We finally got rid of our original set (purchased when they first came out--they were over seven years old) because the handles would no longer hold a charge for more than a day. These new ones are fabulous--even better than the originals. What I like about this set:
-holds charge for a really long time (I have only recharged mine once since I purchased them over two months ago
-comes with two handles and an extra brush head
-the brush heads now come in two sizes (regular and small). The small one is perfect for me because I have a small mouth. The small one will also work for kids.
-it lets you adjust the intensity of the brushing (full force or reduced), so you can get used to it. It can feel very odd at first if you haven't used one before, but trust me, it is worth getting used to it.
-it does an amazing job cleaning my teeth. I feel like I have just come back from the dentist and my teeth are glistening. In fact, my hygienist even commented on my lack of plaque build-up.
-it has whitened my teeth (I haven't switched toothpaste brands, so I know it is the toothbrush)
It does come with only one charger, but considering how infrequently you need to use it, it isn't an issue at all.
This is the original "sonic" toothbrush. I highly recommend it for everyone. It is well worth the price.
Great toothbrush....though it pays to shop around! 2007-08-18
This is the best Sonicare yet... and this is a really nice package. It DOES pay to shop around .... a certain warehouse club whose name starts with a "C" and ends with an "O" is selling this for significantly less. I hope Amazon matches their price.
Again, a great toothbrush, I wouldn't want to be without it.
Wonderful clean feeling!!! 2007-05-15
I recommend this product highly! Your teeth have never been so clean withiout visiting the dentist! If you are still using a manual brush, you need to get a Sonicare now! It's worth every penny!
