An upgrade for and old Sonicare user...

My family has been using Sonicare for a loooong time (about 10 years or so). The first time you use Sonicare, it will make your teeth tickle and feel a bit funny, but that goes away quickly. Once you get use to it, you just won't feel the same about a normal toothbrush again. We recently upgraded to this model from the Sonicare Advance 4100, and it feels very different.

Operation & Use
The feeling of this model compared to the old model is really rough. The old model that I was use to was very gentle, and the first time I used this new model it felt like my whole head was vibrating. When you first buy the e9500, it starts you off at the gentlest setting and gradually increases intensity over the first 14 uses. Unfortunately, I was not the first person to use the handle at my house and my little sister already used it for 2 weeks before I started to use it, so it was already at the highest level. I tried to turn the intensity down, but thought that the blue button was an 'up-down' button since there were two arrows there and kept pushing it to make it go 'down' (user error)... I also thought that the battery gauge was the intensity level indicator and kept trying to make the lights go down (another user error, haha).

It does leave your teeth cleaner than the old model... I keep smiling in the mirror and feeling my teeth with my tongue because they're so smooth and shiny! The compact brush head is also perfect for me because it allows me to maneuver the brush over every millimeter of my teeth. This model has the usual 30 sec. timer to let you know when to switch sections.

Aesthetics
I like how the E9500 looks a lot better. The thin neck comes out at an angle from the handle, which looks very dynamic and is also a more comfortable angle to brush at.

Cleaning
The thing about these handles and bases is that they are white plastic, which is very nice to look at but if you are a very heavy drinker of tea (like my father is) and don't take proper care cleaning them daily they will stain. Our old 4100 model is stained to the core from everyone being too busy to wipe it down before charging it (and from dad's excessive tea drinking). The base that comes with this set is ok to clean (I just stick a cloth through it with my finger), and now we are much more careful about drying the handle before charging it (trust me, you don't want to know what accumulates if you don't). You also need to remove the brush head and clean and dry the inside of the handle because it will get gross if you don't.

Price & Package
$139.99 retail that includes:
1 Sonicare Elite toothbrush
1 standard size brush head
1 compact size brush head
2 Hygenic travel caps
1 Charger base with easy-wrap cord
1 Brush head holder
1 Deluxe travel case

You can also get it from Amazon for $119.99 with free shipping. The travel case is bright blue nylon (like on backpacks) with white plastic piping and velcro closure. It is also lined with a felt-like material to protect your handle.

You just can't put a price on dental hygiene, so I think the price is definitely worth it. Considering the price of a regular toothbrush (about $5 for a nice one maybe?), and how quickly you need to replace it if you brush too hard like I do, the $15 Sonicare brush replacement doesn't seem so bad because it will last about 3 months or more since I don't push down too hard with Sonicare (and the clean feeling you get afterwards is definitely worth it).

Conclusion
I wish that they can just make brush replacements instead of having to replace the entire magnet contraption attached to the brush because it's pretty wasteful. Other than that, I think everyone can use cleaner teeth, and Sonicare is the best in that field. Just make sure you read the instructions and keep it dry when not using it.