The Sonicare Advance Power Toothbrush 4100 is the ‘entry level’ offering from Philips’ Sonicare line. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of some of the higher end models (more about this in a bit), but as the website states … you really can’t go wrong with whichever model you chose. The site tells us ”… Sonicare Advance has the patented sonic technology, high-speed bristle motion and dynamic fluid cleaning action that made it an instant hit with users and the #1 choice of U.S. dental professionals.” My dentist didn’t personally recommend this toothbrush to me … instead my mom bought it for me as a gift. She loved hers so much she decided that everyone in the family must have one! And boy am I glad she did. I had no idea these types of tooth brushes were as expensive as they are … but even so, I think they are worth every penny.

Some of the benefits touted by Sonicare include:

Naturally whiter teeth - Clinically proven to significantly reduce coffee, tea, and tobacco stains in just 28 days

Superior plaque removal - Clinically proven to be significantly more effective than a manual toothbrush

Healthier gums - Reverses gingivitis and helps shrink periodontal pockets

They even say ”You'll get naturally whiter teeth and healthier gums in 28 days - guaranteed.”

I haven’t visited the dentist since I started using my Sonicare at the beginning of May, so I don’t have any official ‘findings’ to report. But unofficially I can say that my teeth do feel cleaner and they stay feeling clean all day long. I brush with the Sonicare in the morning before work and at night before going to bed. I don’t get that slightly fuzzy feeling near the end of the work day that I used to experience if I didn’t brush after lunch. I used to experience a slight, but noticeable, amount of bleeding when I flossed my teeth … not every time, but occasionally … but not anymore at all! And while I can’t say whether it’s due to the Sonicare or the Crest Vivid White toothpaste, I can say that I’ve had two people recently ask if I’d had my teeth bleached! WOW!


The primary features of the Sonicare Advance Power Toothbrush 4100 are:

~ the patent sonic technology (of course!)
~ Easy-Start® power ramp up - which basically means the unit starts out very gently and builds up (over the course of 12 brushings) to full power in order to allow you and your gums to get used to the sonic affects. After the 12th brushing, you will have reached your Sonicare toothbrush's optimal brushing power.
~ Smartimer®— 2-minute automatic shut-off - automatically stops the toothbrush after a 2-minute brushing time – the usual dentist recommendation (though you may find it feels so good, you re-start the brush!)
~ 1 brush head – Sonicare recommends you replace these about once every 6 months.
~ 1 charger base – the unit will typically hold a charge for up to 2 weeks and does not have to be placed on the base all the time. But I keep my unit on the base whenever I’m not using it.
~ 2yr. limited warranty

Some of the features which are available in the 4300 and 4700 models which aren’t included in the 4100 are:

~ Quadpacer® 30-second interval timer – you can mentally divid your mouth into four sections and this feature will take the guesswork out of when to move your brush to different sections of the mouth (uppers to lowers, outside to inside). It beeps at 30-second intervals during the 2-minute brushing period, signaling you to move the brush to the next section.
I wouldn’t mind having this feature, but I think I do pretty good at moving the brush around to the different areas fairly evenly.
~ Recharge indicator – uses a different sequence of beeps or flashes to indicate the charge level. Since I keep my Sonicare in its charger base whenever I’m not using it, I really don’t worry about it running low on power.
~ Ergonomic No Slip Grip – I don’t really know how this differs from the regular grip so I can’t make a comparison. All I can say is that I haven’t had any problem holding mine. It does feel a bit bulky and awkward compared to a manual toothbrush when I first started using the Sonicare, but I quickly became accustomed to the more substantial handle and haven’t found it to be a problem.
~ Travel Case – this might come in handy. I haven’t traveled since I’ve had the Sonicare, but when I do, I’ll most likely just slip my Sonicare into a large zip-lock bag.
~ Brush Head Holder – this would come in handy if several people were sharing the Sonicare base unit and just swapping out the brush heads. However since I’m the only one using this unit, I just leave my brush head on the handle. I may purchase the brush head holder and additional brush heads if my hubby and kids indicate a desire to use the Sonicare. Right now though they all have manual toothbrushes and/or battery powered ‘spin’ brushes.

Sonicare also offers an Elite line with additional features and refinements which build on the basic Sonicare technology and design.

Availability/Price:

Sonicare Power Toothbrushes are widely available on-line and at various drug-stores, mass merchandise stores and even in the health and beauty sections of some supermarkets. I’ve found that the price of the Sonicare Advance Power Toothbrush 4100 ranges in price from about $60 (on-line) to a bit over $70 locally. Bargain hunters might be able to find better deals on the 4100 on-line or at clearance sales especially as the higher end models become more popular and the basic mode is phased out by many retailers. The other various models range in price from $70 - over $100. The replacement brush heads seem to cost about $10 each and are most widely available in packages of two.

Orthodontics:

I don’t have braces, but I noticed that Sonicare does state that their brushes may be used with braces. The website gives additional information on positioning the brush and on the various types of brush heads and which one may be most comfortable for brace wearers.

Personal Observations :

As stated at the beginning of this review … I LOVE my Sonicare Advanced 4100! I actually let it sit in the box for a week or two before I ever used it. I had just purchased a new (manual) Colgate toothbrush the week before my mom gave me the Sonicare … and I just couldn’t justify changing to another new toothbrush after only a few days. It seems silly now … but at the time it seemed logical to use the other brush for a while before plugging in the Sonicare. Now that is one of the possible drawbacks to the Sonicare … it must be plugged in. We have a TINY vanity in our bathroom … just a small amount of countertop around the sink and no extra countertop space anywhere in the bathroom. I considered plugging the unit in in our bedroom, but finally decided just to put it on the bathroom counter. It really doesn’t take up that much space (maybe about 3”X3”) and the base is sort of triangular so it fits into the corner pretty tightly … but having an electrical outlet available and space for the base is a consideration.

The Sonicare brush does take a bit of getting used to. The head felt somewhat large and bulky the first time I used the brush. But now, on the two occasions that I’ve tried to use my manual toothbrush instead of the Sonicare the manual toothbrush feels big and awkward. As mentioned in the features, Sonicare’s Easy-Start will automatically gradually increase the power so that you have time to get used to the sonic brushing. I didn’t notice any problem at all with it, but some users have reported bleeding gums when they first use the brush. Since bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease, those whose gums bleed might have somewhat less healthy gums to start with and the Sonicare will help improve this condition. Sonicare recommends light pressure when brushing to avoid gum irritation. I also recommend being careful not to allow the hard plastic back of the brush head to come in contact with your teeth. It only takes a few brushings to get the hang of things, but early on I bumped my teeth with the brush and the sonic vibration of the hard plastic on my teeth was unpleasant to say the least.

To avoid splattering from the high frequency vibration of the brush, the user should place the brush head in their mouth BEFORE pressing the power button and should allow the brush to remain in their mouth until the brush stops. Sometimes, I find that I need to spit before the full 2 minutes is up. I don’t want to turn off the brush and interrupt the 2 minute timing so I usually just lean close to the sink in an attempt to contain the splatter from the vibrating brush … and then clean up whatever mess I’ve made when I’m finished. Using a very small amount of tooth past will help eliminate the need to spit during the brushing cycle.

After brushing, I rinse my Sonicare under running water and turn the unit back on for a few seconds to allow it to vibrate itself dry. I also wipe the handle and back of the head with a towel before placing it back on the charger base. Sonicare recommends that you remove the brush head once a week and wipe around the connection area. You may also want to slip a thin cloth or paper towel between the part of the brush-head that vibrates and the stationery back of the brush head just to make sure no build up occurs in that area … though this isn’t something Sonicare mentions in their cleaning instructions.

Final Thoughts:

If you don’t have a sonic type toothbrush … GET ONE!!! I can, without hesitation, recommend the Sonicare Advance Power Toothbrush 4100 as a fantastic entry level unit. Its worth every penny of the purchase price and you may even find it improves not only the look of your teeth, but your actual dental health as well. If your budget allows, go ahead and splurge for one of the more advanced models … but if not, the 4100 is a great sonic toothbrush!



Recommended: Yes