Review (5/5): It really works!
I'm going to assume that if you're reading this review, you're seriously considering spending this much $ on a toothbrush. Let's pause here for a second and reflect... A TOOTH BRUSH. That's all you are going to be getting here. It's not magic--so getting it doesn't mean that your dentist will stop hassling you about flossing. ;-)
With that out of the way: WOW!!! I am blown away by this gadget! My teeth feel exceptionally clean--more clean on a daily basis than they ever did before! The brush also does a terrific job of massaging my gums--very nice!
There are several things about it that really impress me:
1. Construction - The brush feels exceptionally solid in your hand. Also, there are no exposed metal pieces on the handle. I was a little confused about this at first ("How does it charge?", I thought), but evidently it doesn't need any exposed metal to make contact with the charging base. :D Okay! No parts to get gummed-up or corrode! Only the most minor complaint: it is a little heavy. My whimpy-wristed girlfriend would complain about this, but I have no problem with it.
2. Design - It is very simple to operate and change brush heads. The brush head itself only needs to be replaced every 6 months (woo-hoo!)--but you need to remove it if you want to use the carrying case, which has been handily provided. No problem! Twist, pop, done. There's only one button to worry about--it's nicely placed high on the handle for convenient access, but there is no chance of it getting in the way while brushing. Another nifty thing is that you can find replacement brush heads almost anywhere.
3. The Brushing Itself - This is really amazing! The brush moves VERY fast, doing ALL the work for you. All you need to do is apply some toothpaste and simply glide the vibrating brush over your teeth--no pressure or scrubbing! Swipe, swipe, swipe. That's all there is to it.
4. The 30 Second Timer - This is probably my favorite feature, aside from clean teeth :-D The brush pauses and beeps briefly (maybe a tenth of a second, if that)--this is your cue to switch the area you're concentrating on. There are several benefits to this 30-second "beep" feature that I noticed; first, it gets you to brush for a full 2 minutes. If you are anything like I was before I got the Sonicare, I would brush for 30 seconds, max. (i.e. scrub-scrub-scrub, spit, rinse). Second, because of the way they instruct you to use the brush, you get full coverage of both arches. You spend 30 seconds on the upper front arch, move to the upper back for another 30, then lower, etc. Very easy.
5. Little Or No Mess! - Maybe it has something to do with the sonic waves of the bristles, maybe it's because you use the brush with no water (only toothpaste), but I noticed that my paste doesn't foam-up NEARLY as much as it used to. Hence, I don't need to keep spitting the excess. I've also noticed a remarkable decrease in the number of "paste spots" on the mirror. Just a nice little side benefit. One thing, though--if you take the brush out of your mouth while it's on it will splatter everywhere! Simple enough to fix, though--just don't take it out of your mouth until you're done!
NOTES: If you use baking soda & peroxide toothpaste, you're going to have to switch, unless you've been instructed by your doctor to specifically use this type of toothpaste. Honestly, it should be no big deal, since what I've heard from various dentists is that there is no particular benefit to using baking soda & peroxide over any other paste. The problem with the Sonicare is the plastic on the brush head and handle tends to crack if you use BS&P. This does not happen if you use the manufacturer recommended gel-type toothpaste (I use gel and have had no problems whatsoever).
Also, there's no reason to leave the unit in the charger. Although the PL-4 should have been equipped with a "smart" battery, it's best if you leave it off the base until it needs to be recharged (the battery may gradually lose life over time, requiring more frequent charging). Another nice feature: if the brush needs a charge, it'll beep four or five times after you complete your brushing cycle ("beep-beep-beep-beep"). I haven't noticed any decrease in brushing power towards the end of the battery life, and I have only had to recharge the unit twice in the 2 months since I got it.
I hope this information helps your decision!