Home > Consumer Reviews > Sonicare Advance 4700 Power Toothbrush

I never thought I would be the type of guy to spend over 100 bucks on a toothbrush, but I did. I have a terrible gag reflex which makes going to the dentist a royal pain in the you-know-what. After cracking a tooth that I had a root canal in 12 years ago, I bought this toothbrush.

The difference was amazing. My teeth got whiter and stayed whiter. I ended up having to have oral surgery to remove the busted root canal tooth, but while I was under all the drugs I wanted them to clean my teeth and fill all my cavities.

Well they didn't do that because my teeth were already clean and I didn't have any cavities. I had not been to the dentist prior to this in about 6 or 7 years. All they did was a minor cleaning and a flouride treatment and sent me on my way. Cool.

This toothbrush is a great part of what should be a 3 pronged attack to preserve your teeth. Brushing with this brush 2 to 3 times a day (after every time you eat is a good idea) in addition to regular flossing and using a good antiseptic mouthwash should keep your teeth in excellent shape. It will also keep you from suffering from gum disease as so many people do these days.

This toothbrush is a great investment in your dental health. Buying it is MUCH cheaper than having a dentist try to re-construct your mouth. Trust me. Having a single dental implant to replace that pulled tooth of mine is going to be a 5,000 dollar process.

If you have never used one before, they feel wierd. But after one week of consistent use, you will never go back. Ordinary toothbrushes feel like futility now. I would also reccomend using the smaller brush heads as they are easier to use than the larger.

The unit is a tad bulky, but from what I hear you can even put on one of the new elite heads which is a much trimmer affair.

I really love this brush and will only get a new one (a Sonicare Elite) when this one dies. You can't go wrong with this purchase...

I have been a dental hygienist for 27 years. In my professional opinion, the Sonicare toothbrush is the best product around for improving oral health. I can tell when I see my patients that they have been using the Sonicare, even before they tell me. When used properly, stain just doesn't build up, plaque is reduced to a minimum, and therefore, tartar doesn't build up as much either. It should be required for any person who has periodontal disease.

This product is safer than any other brush, including manual brushes, for cleaning teeth with recessed gums. It cleans thoroughly without increasing the recession or causing erosion of the roots.

I recommend all models, with the exception of the PS-1. This is a less expensive model because it does not have the 30-second timer. It still brushes well, but using the timer as directed really adds to the overall benefit of the product. I recommend using the ultra compact brush for the older models. None of the brushes for the Advance models are compatible with the new Elite model. Brushes should be changed every 4 months because the magnets under the brush head wear out. It's a little spendy, but not nearly as much as the dental work its use can prevent!

The original company, Sonicare, had a customer service department that couldn't be beat. The service seems to be a little less with Philips, but I'm hoping they improve. Call their customer service number if you have any problems with the brush.

First, I want to share what I know about why the plastic base/handle of a Sonicare may crack. The plastic collar that secures the brush head of my Sonicare Advance cracked during the first week I used my new brush. When I called Sonicare to ask for a replacement, I also got an explanation: If you use toothpaste with baking soda, the plastic will indeed crack sooner or later. The woman I spoke with at Sonicare said she didn't know exactly why this happens, but that the company was aware of the problem, and was looking into the cause and a possible solution. Anyway, they promptly sent me a new collar, and told me not to use any toothpaste with baking soda if I wanted to avoid another cracked brush. I've followed that advice, and my entire brush base is still perfect after 4 years of daily use...

Which brings me to this: I love this toothbrush! My teeth are clean, my gums are healthy, and I can drink the tea I love without developing a stained smile.

I highly recommend this brush, provided you can live without baking soda toothpaste.

I researched this item after the enthusiastic recommendation of my dental hygienist, and found out that many of my friends owned one and absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED it. So I went out and bought one.

I do not like using it. For the longest time I was the only person I'd ever heard of anywhere who dislikes it for the following reason: I don't feel that it cleans my teeth well. The only criticisms I'd ever heard were either "too expensive," or "too powerful--it hurt." Yes, it is expensive, but I have periodontal disease and don't want to lose my teeth, so what's $80.00? Yes, it's very powerful and takes a week or so to get used to the INTENSE vibration. But in the end, if it cleaned my teeth, I'm sure I would love it. I really wanted to love it.

My problem, I think, may be the shape of my teeth. They sort of curve outward at the gumline, I guess you could say my teeth are a little more "dome-shaped" than normal people. So I think that makes brushing the gumline a little more awkward because I'd have to angle it just so to reach the gumline, and even the in-between for my back molars. May I add that I've used it for 4 minutes, not just the suggested 2.

What adds to my problem is the brush head. It's pretty chunky, and it's difficult to maneuver all that vibrating plastic between the cheeks and gums, while simultaneously trying to sort of close your lips over the brush so that spit and toothpaste doesn't splash all over your bathroom mirror. Of course, not long after I bought mine they came out with the Elite, which has a significantly smaller brush head. Knowing what I know now, I would have waited and sprung the extra money for the smaller, easier-to-maneuver Elite brush, because now I have an $80 unit I don't use (it's very unfortunate that the Elite heads cannot be used on the Advance handles.)

I've mentioned my problem with the Sonicare to my dental hygienist, who told me that she has only heard of one other person with the same complaint. It's only one other person in the whole wide world, but it means I'm not the only one!

I'm using a manual brush now, but I'm thinking of trying one of round-brush model electric toothbrushes, like the Rotadent or the Braun Oral-B. I think the roundness would hit all my tooth surfaces more efficiently.

If you have flat-surfaced teeth, I think the Sonicare would be great (but get the Elite version instead if you can afford it, especially if you are female/have a smaller mouth). But if you have round or otherwise unevenly surfaced teeth, you may want to find a way to try it first before buying it (like maybe blowing $10 on a replacement head to try it out on the handle borrowed from a friend's Sonicare).

I've been using Sonicare toothbrushes for about 10 years. My dentist offered a discount on the original model and I liked it better than the other electric toothbrush I had been using. It can keep your teeth close to the condition they are in when you return from a cleaning.

Not only does it leave your teeth cleaner than manual brushing, but it is easier to clean than some other models. Over the years, the company has improved this brush. The handle now has a longer life and it has clear indicators of when it needs recharging.

The compact head works better than the standard head at getting in the back of your mouth. Be sure to angle the brush at the gumline to get the pockets where gingivitis can occur.

My only complaint with this toothbrush is that junk can build up at the base of the brush and the bottom of the charger. Newer models have a redesigned charger that may be easier to clean.