Ultreo Ultrasound Toothbrush Review

The New King of Electric Toothbrushes - ULTREO
By Steve Kruschen ©2007 All Rights Reserved

August 15, 2007 – I’ve been a satisfied and dedicated Sonicare user for many years, since their first model and before the company was purchased by Philips. My twice yearly dental checkups have been normal and boring.

The hygienist has told me to floss better, but that’s about it. She and my dentist would like to see less recession of the gums and less puffiness than what they usually discover, but, all in all, my choppers are in pretty good shape. My chart has a “Sonicare User” sticker on it!

Over the years I have tried other specialty toothbrushes including the manual Radius, a big oval head brush head and in my view, the best manual toothbrush on the market. Then, there is the other major electric on the market – Oral-B. I believe it is neither remarkable nor as good as the current model Sonicare Elite which was my toothbrush of choice, but it is much less expensive. (The new Sonicare model, expected to be available next month will cost about $180!) Sonicare mechanically brushes and uses powerful waves to clean your teeth. It is recognized for its excellence in trial after clinical trial and, of course, by my dentist through his own findings and observations over the years with my teeth and dozens of other patients using the product.

Last year, I also tried the new HydraBrush, a device that uses reciprocating brushes. This product’s brush head is designed to have you place it over the teeth, so one set of brushes handles the outside of your teeth while the other set brushes the inner surfaces. Conceptually, it’s a good idea, but the execution is clunky and feels like a design in need of more work. Using it causes shaking and vibration the likes of which make it an unpleasant experience. And, once toothpaste is placed on the brushes, it’s tough to rinse it all off. It’s big and clunky and needs more development, or abandonment. My HydraBrush evaluation lasted only a couple of months before I simply gave up and tossed it. It’s not a product I can recommend or endorse. It’s a product that causes me to scratch my head wondering how it made it to the market.

A few months ago, I learned about a new design conceived by an expert in ultrasonic technology from the University of Washington. The story goes that he was thinking about how ultrasonic waves could be put to use in new and different ways. You can read more about the interesting genesis of the product. The Ultreo CEO was president of Optiva Corporation, developers of the original Sonicare!

This is technology that many of you already know about and have seen in action. Have you ever taken your jewelry to the store to be dipped in a buzzing bath from which the ring, earrings bracelet or necklace emerges looking as if new? All the grime coating and discoloring the object is removed as if magically. Or, for those of you with dental or orthodontic appliances, have they been cleaned in the ultrasonic bath at the dentist’s or orthodontist’s office? It’s the same technology.

So, this research scientist and professor thought, what if ultrasonic technology could be adapted for use as part of an electric toothbrush? The $170 Ultreo was born.

At the center of a small field of soft bristles in the brush head is a rubbery pad recessed deep within that forest of bristles. It is from that innocuous pad that the ultrasonic waves emanate. As the user lightly passes the brush head by each tooth and its associated gumline, these waves do their job of super-cleaning, removing plaque and other nasties on the surface, leaving teeth with a feeling of clean previously not possible except for the feeling just after your dental professional cleans your teeth.

In addition, Ultreo developers reported to me that gum puffiness may be reduced as well as improvements in the progression of gum recession, that is, the natural state of the gums that may recede over time to reveal more of the base of the tooth. In some people, this condition is worse than in others.

I called to ask if I could try the product. I read about it first. Then, I tried it. From the first time I used Ultreo, my teeth felt exceptionally clean, and that clean lasted for most of the day, well into the night. I kept running the tip of my tongue over the tooth surfaces, especially my front teeth, to experience that feeling of clean which has never been the case for so long throughout the day. This, say the product’s representatives, is the first thing most users notice.

Such a feeling is by no means a clinical affirmation of the product’s efficacy. I knew I also needed a positive experience with the dentist and his dental hygienist. So, I waited for my next appointment. In the meantime, I brushed exclusively with this new Ultreo, both at home and on the road. I find it a totally pleasing experience when using Ultreo.
The svelte handle holds a charge for up to 28 brushings and the inductive charger is safe, with no exposed contacts to worry about. I also like the charger because it is designed for international voltages, from 100 – 240 volts. Just connect the international plug adapter needed for the country visited and no additional charger is needed, unlike Sonicare, which requires a $35-ish charger for the correct voltage of foreign countries.
Ultreo representatives also urged me early in my own trial to NOT floss for a few days. This was to show me that even without flossing, Ultreo would get the job done so that once I resumed flossing, I would see little evidence of missing this activity. They were right. Of course, proper flossing is more than just removing food that may be stuck between the teeth. It is also a way of stimulating the gums between the teeth in order to keep them healthy.

Last month I had my scheduled six-month checkup. I kept mum on the changes in my normal routine. The hygienist noted that my teeth were exceptionally clean, requiring less than the usual help from her to bring them to their clean-from-the-dentist’s-office state. In addition, she noted that my usual number four on the puffiness scale had improved in most areas of my mouth to a three! Finally, she noted what appeared to be an arresting of the slight and consistent gum recession seen over many years. My mouth and teeth condition were stable and, in some areas, improved, not that my teeth have ever generally been problematic.

She was curious to know, after such consistency in the past with the proven Sonicare regimen, if there had been any changes to my routine? Why yes, I reported! It’s got to be my use of the Ultreo over the past three months. There have been no other changes.

Of course, mine is not a clinical study, but anecdotally, it’s my own proof that Ultreo is a cut above the previous champ. It’s exactly what I needed in order to prove to myself that my perceptions of the quality of Ultreo were accurate before I could report to others.

Now, I have my own experience and perception, borne out by my latest checkup. I asked if there is anything known that can be harmful to the teeth from Ultreo. Nothing here to complain about. It was noted, however, that for those with abnormal tooth sensitivity, such sensitivity can be exacerbated with the use of Ultreo until the user becomes accustomed to how it does what it does. I, on the other hand, am also one who uses Sensodyne toothpaste precisely because of occasional sensitivity that we have not been able to otherwise improve, so I did not feel anything negative with the use of Ultreo. In fact, I quite like the feeling.

Using Ultreo requires a shift from the way one would normally brush in the manual style or with other electric toothbrushes. It was explained to me that I should use only a small pea-sized bead of toothpaste. Toothpaste, I was told, is really only mostly window dressing in the activity of tooth care. It is the brushing motion of devices including both Sonicare and Ultreo that performs the cleaning.

Slowly moving the brush head along the teeth, aiming the head slightly downward toward the gum line is what does the trick. Slow, methodical, working the mouth in quadrants is the recommended method of approach. Ultreo, as does Sonicare, emits a tone after each quarter of its two-minute cycle until it automatically shuts off. I found that I felt better and the most effective feeling of clean after two of these automatic cycles.

Ultreo recommends replacement of the brush heads after three months, even though there will likely be no visible sign of wear. Get a new one and snap it on! Installation and removal are easy. Snap straight down over the protruding metal part to install, and pull off to remove. The best deal on replacement heads is $36 for a two-pack.

Ultreo comes with a travel case, though I wish this part was of better, more sturdy design. It’s by no means a deal-breaker, however. In order to protect mine, I put the case inside a zippered plastic bag and rolled it up, and still the top of the case was damaged while I have been traveling. Though buried in my suitcase, it made its way closer to the surface. The top of the case was smashed and a piece broke off despite my best efforts to protect it.

My final word to you is this – Ultreo is, to me, the new king of electric toothbrushes. It is well worth the $170 investment in better oral care for you and your family. You may want to get one for a pair of bathroom-sharing adults and another handle plus brushes for a pair of kids who share a bathroom. Or, you may want one just for yourself if travel is a constant in your schedule.

Whatever you do, get on the Ultreo program for the best oral care you’re likely to ever experience and a daily clean you will really love. I’m sticking with Ultreo until and unless I find something better! I recommend Ultreo as highly as I can.

Ultreo is a precision oral care instrument that is likely to improve and maintain the improvement in your mouth. What more can I say?

Click Here to go Back

If you are having a problem with your Ultreo Toothbrush please call 877-4ULTREO. They will process the exchange or refund the purchase price but will need a copy of a receipt.