PROCTER & GAMBLE

Oral-B iO Series 9 Electric Toothbrush Evaluation

Round brush head with gentle micro-vibrations provides a professional -clean feeling while encouraging proper brushing technique

What do you get when you add micro-vibrating bristles to a round toothbrush head and combine that with an innovative interactive display, built-in timer, pressure sensor, and an app that’s built with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to monitor performance? If that sounds like the beginning of a joke, you can be assured that this electric toothbrush is no joke. Procter & Gamble’s Oral-B iO Series 9 Electric Toothbrush is loaded with features and technology that encourage thorough brushing for a professional clean feeling.

After recommending Oral-B toothbrushes to her patients for years, Suzanne Setayesh, DDS, didn’t think they could get much better. But, after test-driving the Oral-B iO Series 9 for several weeks, she decided, “It is by far the best electric toothbrush that I have used.” When asked what she liked best, she adamantly replied, “Everything!” and named almost every important design feature of the brush.

“The most important feature for me is the different brushing modes as I have super sensitive teeth. It has excellent plaque removal ability. The 2-minute timer ensures we are brushing long enough, the pressure sensor keeps us from pressing too hard, and Bluetooth technology keeps track of brushing habits.”

Several dentists and hygienists used the Oral-B iO Series 9 Electric Toothbrush themselves for a few weeks before sharing their thoughts with DPS, with many deciding they would continue to use this Best Product and recommend it to their patients.

Brush Head Design

The unique round brush head and gentle cleaning motion of micro-vibrating bristles help users clean thoroughly, according to Procter & Gamble, and Linda Kovary, RDH, agreed that “this brush head cleaned without being too hard.” Stating that patients often avoid electric brushes with uncomfortable vibrations, Dr. Mary Gadbois reported, “The vibrations of the iO Series 9 were minimal and welcomed by every member of my family.” While most evaluators appreciated the round brush head, a few had to adapt to the round shape. Lynn Ramer, LDH, called the reduced noise “a huge plus” compared to other electric toothbrushes.

Dea Houser, RDH

"The features
will help 'train'
us to be better
brushers so the
skills will become
second nature."

Linda Kovary, RDH

"I was pleasantly
surprised at how
effectively it
cleaned."

Mary Gadbois, DDS

"It gets to the
interproximal
surfaces of the
teeth better than
any other brush
I've used."

Dea Houser,
RDH
Charlotte, NC

Linda Kovary,
RDH
Sparta, NJ

Mary Gadbois,
DDS
Columbia, MO

Innovative Features

The iO Series 9 toothbrush features 7 Smart Modes for personalized brushing—Daily Clean, Whitening, Gum Care, Sensitive, Intense, Super Sensitive, and Tongue Clean. A Smart Pressure Sensor encourages correct pressure, and a timer reminds patients to brush for a full 2 minutes. “The position detection and pressure sensor functions help keep brushing trajectory on track while helping lessen excessive pressure,” noted hygienist Dea Houser. The timer “engages the patient to use for a full 2 minutes while applying the correct pressure,” shared Kovary, who said her grandchildren loved the happy face that indicates when brushing is complete.

With 3D Teeth Tracking recognition, built with AI, users are guided across all 16 zones of the mouth, and a Bluetooth connection to the Oral-B app helps patients track and map brushing results and compliance. Houser praised the easy-to-read, interactive color display, and Ramer suggested “a more defined on/off switch.” Amy Lindsey said, “The app helps encourage good brushing by helping the user spend sufficient time in each section of the mouth.” A magnetic charger easily secures the brush to the charging station, which Ramer said does not take up much counter space, and the battery fully charges in approximately 3 hours. Dr. Setayesh said a full charge lasted her a few weeks, while Dr. Robert Johnson would like the battery charge to last longer.

Final Cleaning Results

The frictionless, smooth magnetic drive system transfers energy to the bristle tips, which left Kovary “pleasantly surprised at how effectively it cleaned” and made Dr. Setayesh a believer in electric toothbrushes. Reporting that she resisted using an electric toothbrush for many years, Dr. Setayesh said, “I see now that I was underestimating the power of Oral-B, which leaves you with a feeling as if you had your teeth cleaned professionally.” She noticed a “significant change in the amount of plaque remaining on teeth” and “reduced staining on teeth” after each brushing cycle with the iO Series 9. Calling it a quality product, Dr. Arkady Tsibel said, “It sufficiently cleans all surfaces.” Complimenting the brush for cleaning “the interproximal surfaces of the teeth better than any other toothbrush I’ve used,” Dr. Gadbois shared this observation from her 10-year-old son. “I can’t believe how much cleaner my teeth are compared to my normal toothbrush,” he said. “It’s like a magic wand.”

Suzanne, DDS
"I underestimated the power of Oral-B, which leaves you with a feeling as if you had your teeth cleaned professionally."
-Suzanne Setyesh, DDS
Ellicott City, MD

Overall Satisfaction

Since trying the Oral-B iO Series 9, Kovary has given up her previous name-brand electric toothbrush and switched to Oral-B. “I noticed how much cleaner my mouth felt. I felt it cleaned better and liked the additional features,” she noted. Houser would “absolutely” recommend this brush to patients, explaining, “Ultimately the features will help ‘train’ us to be better brushers so the skills will become second nature.” She said, “Everything about the display is great” and called it “a solid brush that works well and has Oral-B quality with excellent functions. I wish all my patients had one.”

Takeaways

• Round brush head and powerful but gentle micro-vibrating bristles clean thoroughly
• 7 Smart Modes allow a personalized cleaning experience
• Smart Pressure Sensor and 2-minute timer encourage proper brushing habits
• 3D Teeth Tracking and AI Recognition guides user across all 16 zones of the mouth
• Connect to Oral-B app via Bluetooth to track and map brushing results

Power Toothbrushes