Philips Sonicare Elite e7300 Power Toothbrush
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Our Price: $175.00 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Philips Sonicare Elite e7300 Power Toothbrush
Customer Review: Once you go Sonicare, you don't go back!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bit the bullet and bought this toothbrush a couple months ago because my dentist diagnosed me with periodontal disease after he found about 5 cavities, recessed gums, and 32 sites of bleeding along my gumline. Granted, I hadn't had a professional cleaning in over 2 years. I also have crowded teeth due to my wisdom teeth, which make it especially hard to clean in the back of my mouth. I decided to buy the Sonicare as an investment, after paying around $1,000 for all the fillings, cleanings, and root planing & scaling he had to do over the course of 2 months to treat my disease. Well, I think it worked because last week I went for a follow-up and the hygienist said that my teeth looked noticeably cleaner, AND my periodontal pockets had shrunken and the number of bleeding sites had reduced from 32 to 4! I can't attribute all of this to the Sonicare because I'm sure their treatment and my longer brushing sessions due to the Sonicare's timer helped a lot too, but I'm confident that at least part of the improvement was due to the Sonicare's superior cleaning.
I had the original Sonicare a few years ago, but it died on me. I'm glad I upgraded to this new one because it reaches the rear, hard-to-reach areas much easier than the last one, thanks to the slimmer head and angled brush. That's especially important for someone like me whose rear teeth are the most vulnerable to problems. The new model is also lighter, looks sleeker, and has a rubber grip (I love the tactile feel of those). The 7300 has a charge indicator, which frankly I don't feel is a big deal because I always return the brush to its charging unit after use anyway.
Using the Sonicare takes some getting used to for newbies because it may tickle and feel weird, but it has a ramp-up feature that gradually increases the speed during the first few uses. Once you get used to it though, it's nothing. I enjoy the invigorating feeling of it, and my mouth just feels so clean afterwards. The unit has a pacer that makes sure you spend 30 seconds on each of the 4 sections of your mouth, which is good because it forces you to brush correctly. However, it is annoying if you like to brush your tongue like I do, because then you have to turn it on for another few seconds to do that (you get used to it though)-I believe the higher model allows you to customize the timer to allow for additional brush time. The timer can be a little annoying when you're exhausted and just want to brush as fast as possible, but that's just me being lazy-I always feel a surge of guilt when I turn it off prematurely, which may be a good thing because my teeth and gums (and wallet) will probably thank me in the long run for brushing properly.
Another thing that takes getting used to is the amount of foam the brush generates due to its sonic action-I like to keep my mouth slightly open when I'm brushing so I can make sure I'm getting all the areas and am angling the brush correctly (they recommend keeping it at around a 30 degree angle to your tooth surface), so in the beginning I would drool toothpaste foam each time. I'm gotten better though, so there's usually just a little foam dribble now!
Not only does my mouth feel spotless after using the Sonicare, but my teeth have gotten noticeably whiter too-several people have commented on that.
I sometimes buy gadgets and get tired when their novelty wears off, but that hasn't happened with the Sonicare-I have used it virtually daily for the last couple of months and am hooked. I traveled once and left it at home, and I felt so caveman-like sticking that big blunt old-fashioned toothbrush in my mouth during that time. Not to mention that my mouth didn't feel as clean.
I have a set that came with extra heads, a head storage stand, and a deluxe travel case. Each head has a different colored band around the neck, which is great because you can share it with your partner and keep track of which head is whose. The case is a nice touch for traveling-I took mine without the charging base on a 4-day trip recently during which I shared it with a friend (i.e., 4 uses per day) and it lasted the whole trip and then some on a single charge.
Keeping the unit clean can be annoying because the well into which you screw on the head accumulates water which eventually starts to discolor and smell like mold/mildew. In order to minimize this, I take the head off after each use, shake the water out of the well, and allow the unit to air-out while it sits in the charger base-but the smell still happens, albeit more slowly. Therefore, every couple of weeks, I clean the well and my brush head with a bleach solution to disinfect and deodorize everything. I'm curious to see how long this unit lasts, because it seems that many people complain of Sonicares dying after a year. My original one lasted over a year, but I used it very infrequently (never got hooked on it). I hope the new one lasts a while, because it was expensive!
All in all, I highly recommend the Sonicare, especially for people with dental problems. Don't waste your money on the original ("Advanced") model because this one is so much better.
Customer Review: Cleaning: 3, human factors: 0
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought the original Sonicare when it first came out -- 20 years ago? I don't remember. The technology clearly works. My dentist reports a significant improvement in plaque. I have never used any of the other "sonic" toothbrushes. I imagine they work as well.
My original Sonicare just started acting up. It still works, but I think the battery is dying. So I bought the e7300. First impressions are that Philips went for glitz over quality and has added all kinds of marginally useful or even useless "features" so they can engage in marketing hype and jack up the price. It looks to be more cheaply made. I would be surprised if this unit lasts even a fraction of the 20 years of the original unit. It looks to me like it was designed to fail.
I was annoyed by the very first page of the manual. It tells me to make sure the handle is properly seated in the base, because if it is put in wrong, the charging light may still come on, but it won't charge. What kind of engineering is this? If it's not charging, don't turn the light on. Don't they have engineers smart enough to figure that out? So I tested it. Sure enough, you can put the handle in any which way and the charging light comes on. This is just lazy or careless design work.
Worse, the base is too small, too light, and too shallow. In the original unit, the handle goes well over an inch into the base and there is only one way it will fit. With this unit, the base only holds the handle by about a half inch so it's easy to put it in wrong. And sure enough, no matter how you put it in, even half falling out, the charging light lights up. Looks like it was designed by the marketing department?
Then there's the idiotic 2-minute shutoff. I can see zero benefits and several disadvantages. First of all, why are they shutting it off after 2 minutes? Do they think I might leave it on or am too lazy to turn it off myself. This is a clear case of terminal helpfulness.
But that's not the most annoying problem. You do NOT want to take the thing out of your mouth while it is running or you will spray toothpaste and spit everywhere. After a few uses, I am operating on autopilot. When I finish brushing, I click the on/off button to turn it off and remove it from my mouth in one simultaneous motion. If you happen to finish brushing just as the thing shuts off (after 2 minutes), clicking the on/off button will actually turn it back on as you are removing it from your mouth. Now you will have a nice little task of cleaning the mirror, the sink, your shirt, the wall, the floor... Nice. #@$%#$@!!! I have done this a few times. Not good.
Personally, I find the "timer signal" every 30 seconds annoying, too. I just want a simple on/off button. It's a toothbrush, not the control panel for a heart-lung machine. KISS. Actually, I have no problem with this "feature" if some people are unable to figure out how to brush without a built-in timer as long as the company provides a way to turn the infernal thing off. But clearly they think they know what I need better than I do.
In the original model, I could at least turn off the 30-second reminders by holding the on/off button for a few seconds -- simple. With this "improved" model, they have added a "dual speed" button, but it only works while in the charger. Now that's convenient. I have the charger at the back of the sink behind the radio and out of the way. Now I have to move the charger to where I can actually see it. My guess is that they are again protecting me from myself so I won't accidentally change the settings while I am using the unit. Did they test this on morons? Did they test it at all?
The ultimate insult to injury is in the instructions on recycling the battery. I am told to first deplete the battery. I am to do this by removing the unit from the charger, turning it on, and letting it run until it stops. But it stops every 2 minutes! Since they brag that the unit can be used for 2 weeks (twice a day) on a full charge, they are really asking me to stand there for an hour (2x2x14 minutes) and restart the unit 28 times. Like that is going to happen.
On the bright side, it comes with a very nice travel case. I used to toss my old one in my dopp kit, which is probably why it broke and I bought this piece of junk.
Summary: The technology works. This unit was designed to fail early so that you would buy a new one. I give it 3 stars for cleaning teeth and 0 stars for arrogant, cheap design and being overpriced.
07/30/10 I have since junked this thing and bought an Oral B Sonic Complete. (Oral B S-320 Sonic Complete Rechargeable Power Toothbrush) What a difference. The Oral B is well designed (with one minor annoyance) and it cleans better. I have a mouth guard. I clean it every morning. It had become yellowed over the years. After a few days with the Oral B, it has lost most of the yellowing. I am downgrading the Sonicare to a 1 in comparison to the Oral B. Check it out.
Customer Review: SONICARE CONQUERS CALCULUS!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been brushing with Sonicare for just over a year now - starting with the 4700, and now with the 7300. I cannot praise Sonicare enough! People accuse me of being a walking commercial, but when you find something this great - you've just got to share the joy.Before Sonicare, visiting my dentist was always a really horrible experience. Despite my best efforts with my previous electric brush, all too often it would take two appointments just for a routine cleaning. The hygienist had to scale (and scale, and scale) by hand - because my teeth and gums were very sensitive, and because I had such deep "pockets" (yes, gum disease!) that the electronic scaler could not do the whole job anyway. I needed gas to make it through! It seemed like I always had another little cavity somewhere, and to make things worse, there was the constant look of disappointment from my dentist.
Needless to say, I had to find a solution. I spoke to a co-worker who raved about his Sonicare 4700. I decided to give it a try. It was a little expensive, but after brushing with it just once - I knew my teeth were miles cleaner right away. The "sonic" part took some getting used to, but I was determined. After a week or so, the brush's strong massaging action began to feel really good, and I actually looked forward to brushing.
In one week, my teeth were much whiter. As time went by, my gums became pink and healthy looking. Who knew blood did not have to accompany brushing?
Still, even though I knew things were improving, I put off going in for cleaning. All things considered, can you blame me? When I realized it had been nearly 16 months, I finally screwed up the courage to go.
I had my first post-Sonicare cleaning just last week. I had been in the chair only a few short minutes when, after picking at my teeth a little and blinking her eyes a lot, the hygienist abruptly left the room. I moaned to myself, "What, does she need a jack hammer?" Turned out she couldn't find any more to scale, and she was so amazed she brought in the dentist!
With Sonicare, I have finally conquered calculus. Even better, all traces of gum disease are GONE!!! "Pockets" that were "6", are now "1" - perfect! When I left the office, my dentist smiled at me and said, "Great job!"
I think both Sonicare models are terrific. The standard brush head on the 4700 was a little big to easily reach my back teeth (but I have a pretty small mouth.) Buying the "compact" head reduced that problem. The new 7300 features a brush head that is like a regular toothbrush in size and shape. I find the 7300 far easier to maneuver, but that's just my personal experience. The cleaning function seems equal.
Sure, the Sonicare is a little pricey and the "sonic action" takes some getting used to, but the pay off of healthy teeth and gums far outweighs those considerations. My 4700 obviously worked great (and still does), but the new 7300's smaller brush and lighter handle are really a perfect fit for me. I have not experienced any of the problems mentioned here - but even if I did.... I'd buy another Sonicare without a moment's hesitation.
Customer Review: The Best Toothbrush
Summary: 5 Stars
Ever since receiving my Philips Sonicare Elite 7300 toothbrush for Christmas a couple of years ago, I have come to expect great products from the Philips Corporation. I had expressed to my parents that I wanted a good electric toothbrush because I feel that taking care of my teeth is extremely important. I have never had a cavity or any other sort of problems with my teeth and I was not ready to start. After I got my new toothbrush, my mom expressed to me the importance of taking care of it because it was pricey for "just a toothbrush." My cousin Jenny, who is in her second year in dental school, said that buying a Sonicare toothbrush was the best thing you could do for your teeth as recommended by her professors and colleagues, so my mom thought that I might as well try it and be the guinea pig of the family.
I am so glad that I got this specific toothbrush because no regular toothbrush gives me the cleanliness feeling that my Sonicare toothbrush gives me after brushing. After using the Sonicare 7300, my friends and family have all said my teeth look brighter and whiter. I know I haven't changed my toothpaste (Colgate Total...also recommended by my cousin), so it must be the toothbrush. The thing I love most about my Sonicare is that I don't have to brush hard. With regular toothbrushes, I would apply too much force that all my bristles would bend outwards. With this toothbrush, it's really difficult to apply a lot of pressure on the toothbrush because it's already vibrating so much. The force is about 10x the regular Crest and Oral-B brushes they sell in the stores. My dentist has even commented on how the receding of my gumline has stopped. Brushing with the Sonicare 7300 is like brushing with a new toothbrush everyday.
I also love the fact that the toothbrush has the quad pacer. This feature tells you to switch to a different region in your mouth (i.e. top front, top back, bottom front, bottom back). The fact that I don't have to waste money on batteries for my toothbrush since the Sonicare comes with a rechargeable battery is also an advantage. The toothbrush heads' bristles are curved to get in-between your teeth and to clean the surface of a tooth. After brushing with the Sonicare 7300, I like to pass my tongue across the front and back of all my teeth and it feels like I just got my teeth cleaned by a hygienist. In addition, the noise of the Sonicare is less audible than other electric toothbrushes, so I don't worry about waking up my roommates when I brush my teeth before bed.
The only thing that I dislike about my Sonicare Elite 7300 is that water gets collected on the inside part of the handle and if you don't detach your brush and dry it out or clean it out, it could start to smell or get hard water stains. I have learned that cleaning it out with vinegar fixes the problem. Also, if you're the type of person that likes to see your teeth while you're brushing, the vibration force of the brush will cause you to get speckles of toothpaste to fly on your mirror, which is a huge pet-peeve of my moms. To fix this, I simply don't brush with my mouth open or without my lips enclosed on my Sonicare toothbrush.
Customer Review: Worth the upgrade?
Summary: 3 Stars
As an owner of an "original" Sonicare (on my second actually) I am writing this review more from the perspective of whether the Elite is worth $[$$]+ as an "upgrade".First, from an aesthetic and ergonomic point on view the Elite is a big step forward. The handle is lighter and has a tapered shape with a rubber grip. More importantly the brush head is smaller and is more of a diamond shape rather than the "original" rectangle. The brush head "neck" is also angled to provide easier access to the back teeth and "flexes" both horizontally and vertically.
That being said, the Elite just does not seem as "powerful" as the original. This is based not only on my subjective opinion of the "feel" while brushing but also on an objective "look" at the brush head while powered on. Whereas the original has bristles that travel through a 90 degree arc, the Elite bristles barely travel at all. Granted, this may be in part due to the smaller/shorter bristles. Sonicare claims that the Elite is actually better from a functional point of view and I cannot say otherwise, so I will give them the benefit of the doubt. (yes, i tested with the "beginner mode" turned off)
Also, after six weeks of usage, one of the magnets on the Elite brush head appears to have rusted significantly. This was never a problem with the "original" Sonicare brush heads. Whether this affects performance or not I cannot say. As the brush head enters its third, fourth or fifth month of service I can only assume that the changes for decreased performance would increase. Also, black "moldy" appearing deposits accumulate in the handle "well" which, also, never occured with the "original". My guess here is that water is allowed to accumulate inside the brush head and handle well because of the flexible rubber housing (between the brush head "nut" and "neck") allows for the 360 degree "flex" I mentioned earlier-this housing is not sealed. When I inquired, Sonicare denied(not having seen the unit) that what I was seeing was rust, and referred me to the cleaning instructions. Take that for what it is worth...
I have found one interesting thing... While the "original" brush head will not fit the Elite handle, the Elite brush head WILL fit the "original" handle. I detect no difference in the brushing experience using that combination.
My recommendations therefore are:
1) if you have never had a Sonicare then by all means buy the "Elite"... (but be wary of the rusting problem)
2) if you currently have an "original" that is on its last legs then buy an Elite (again be wary of the rust)
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