Oral-B Pulsonic

Bottom line

The Oral-B Pulsonic does an excellent job of cleaning teeth and has Oral-B's solid reputation for quality and durability behind it. It has a slender and lightweight build, making it comfortable to hold and maneuver around the mouth. It requires a bit more work on the part of the user, however, than other electric toothbrushes, such as the Best Reviewed Oral-B Professional Healthy Clean Precision 4000 (*Est. $100).

Minimal add-ons. It has a built-in two-minute timer and comes with one brush head.

Performance

Invigorating clean. The Oral-B Pulsonic uses sonic technology and rapid side-to-side vibrations to clean teeth. It produces 27,000 vibrations per minute and has two brushing modes: Clean and Sensitive. In clinical studies, the Oral-B Pulsonic is shown to reduce a significant amount of plaque -- more than a manual toothbrush. Users at Amazon.com and Walmart.com agree. Most say their teeth feel as clean as after a professional cleaning. One owner says the cleaning action feels, "incredibly invigorating!" Several say that the toothbrush also improves the condition of gums over time.

Durability

Oral-B has a reputation for good quality. We didn't see many comments about the Pulsonic's durability. A couple of owners at Amazon.com, however, say they have had their Oral-B Pulsonics for more than four years. Furthermore, Oral-B power toothbrushes, in general, have a reputation for good quality and durability. The toothbrush has a two-year warranty.

Ease of Use

Comfortable to hold. Users say they are impressed by how comfortably the Oral-B Pulsonic fits in the hand. It has a slim and lightweight handle that several say is similar to the size and feel of a manual toothbrush. One owner says the slender build makes it "easy to maneuver around the mouth." Some reviewers also like that the toothbrush has a two-minute timer with 30-second intervals but doesn't turn off automatically like Sonicare models do. This allows users to spend extra time on the gums or other targeted areas.

Some say that the Pulsonic isn't as easy to use as other Oral-B toothbrushes, however, because it only moves side-to-side. Manufacturers suggest moving the toothbrush in circular motions along your teeth to get the best results. Users point out that the Oral-B Professional Healthy Clean Precision 4000 (*Est. $100), on the other hand, doesn't require any brushing work on the part of the user.