Oral-B Pro 3 3000 / 3500 / 3900 Review

Dentist recommended features are built-in and perform as expected

We don’t have an extensive list of must-have features, but there are a few that our in-house dentists feel are really worthwhile: a 2 minute timer, a pacer and a pressure sensor. These are included in all but the cheapest of brushes these days.

The 2 minute timer and pacer help you clean your teeth evenly

The pacer momentarily pauses the brushing action every 30 seconds to tell you to move on to the next part of the mouth. After 2 minutes the alert changes slightly to tell you that you have brushed for long enough. 

Unlike some brushes, the Pro 3 3500 doesn’t power off automatically. This may be a disappointment to some, but it’s not a big issue. 

The visible pressure sensor will alert you when you are brushing too hard

Scrubbing and using lots of force as you brush will damage the teeth and gums over the long term. Oral-B has for many years built pressure sensors into their toothbrushes and the Pro 3 is no exception.

When the handle detects you are brushing with excess force the motor will slow the brush head and the light ring at the top of the handle will illuminate red. When it does, you need to relieve the pressure until the light goes out.

It is relatively easy to spot out of the corner of the eye or in the mirror if you brush in front of one. You don’t get any vibration or alert through the handle like you do with the Sonicare 3100 Series.

If you know you have a habit of brushing with too much force, the Pro 3 will help you rectify this.

A minor irk, in which no way affects daily use, is that the light is strongest on the backside of the ring, where the LED is located. It is not a consistently strong ring of red light as you might expect.

The small round brush head reaches tight spaces and gives good cleaning results

Included in the box is a single brush head. Oral-B’s oscillating-rotating brush heads are smaller than the sonic ones from the likes of Sonicare and can feel quite aggressive in comparison. They do make it easy to reach the tightest of spaces, though.

If you like an invigorating clean, the Pro 3 certainly doesn’t disappoint.  It sounds cliche, but a ‘dentist clean feeling’ really does apply here. Approved by the Oral Health Foundation and backed by clinical evidence. Used correctly, the Pro 3 will remove plaque effectively.

If you are sensitive and don’t like such a powerful clean, the softer Sensi UltraThin brush head and the lower powered cleaning mode can be beneficial.

Whilst power is far from the most important factor in achieving good cleaning results, I am often asked how many oscillations and pulsations models offer.

The Pro 3 3000 series motor generates up to 9,900 oscillations and 45,000 pulsations per minute. The exact number depends on the brushing mode selected.

There are a number of differently styled, yet compatible Oral-B brush heads, but the key thing to know is that all things considered each head cleans comparably. Our preference is the softer Sensi UltraThin or the slightly firmer bristled CrossAction. Most dentists will advise a soft bristled brush, hence the Sensi UltraThin being a great option.

The brush handle won’t alert you when it’s time for a new brush head

On average you want to be replacing the head every 3 months. This ensures worn bristles are not being used for longer than they should and you therefore get the most effective and safest clean over this time.

Unlike the iO Series 3, 4 and 5 which have LEDs on the handle that light up when it is time to replace the brush head, the Pro 3 doesn’t. 

If using the supplied CrossAction or 3D White option, the green bristles will gradually turn yellow over 3 months. Known as CleanMaximiser bristles, they are a visual clue it might be time to switch the head you are using. 

If the head looks like it has seen better days, replace it. And even if it’s still not in bad shape after 3 months, it should still be swapped out.

Below average, but a reliable 2 weeks battery life from a full charge

2+ weeks is the claimed usable life of the Lithium-Ion battery sealed inside the brush handle, based on 2 cleans per day each 2 minutes in length. I achieved 19-20 days and have noticed much more consistent battery performance than the iO Series brushes.

But, at 2+ weeks it falls short of the industry average which is really at 3-4 weeks. By no means is this a deal breaker when considering the Pro 3.

When low, the battery notification LED will flash red and you may notice the motor slow. A full recharge takes up to 12 hours. The battery LED will flash green whilst charging, before turning off once complete.

The supplied white charging stand has a 90cm power cable with a 2 pin plug suitable for UK bathrooms attached. You will need to purchase a plug adapter to connect to a 3 pin socket. It supports 220-240v.

Electronics in the handle mean you can leave the brush on the stand at all times. Grime can build up on the stand, but it’s easily wiped clean.

Pick the 3500 variant, it comes with a travel case

There are several different variations of this ‘Pro 3’. There is the Pro 3 3000, 3 3500 and 3 3900. 

Technically all are the same, what differs is the handle colour and box contents.

The 3500 is the same as the 3000 but comes with a travel case. 

The 3900 package contains 2 x 3000 handles, but no travel cases.

My recommendation is to buy the Pro 3 3500, providing it is the same price as the 3000 or within about £5. 

Many of us do spend nights away and need to take our toothbrush. Without a case, we have to buy or find some other solution to protect the head and handle from damage. The one supplied is basic but functional, holding the handle and up to 2 heads. It has vents to ensure air can circulate and dry out the bristles.

If you need multiple handles, consider the 3900, but as odd as it may seem, it might be better value to buy 2 of the Pro 3 3000 or 3500 variants.

Pro 3 3000 vs Pro 3 3500 vs 3900

A must buy – good value for the features and performance

Although the retail price is £90, don’t pay this. As a general rule, Oral-B brushes are discounted by around 50%, thus a purchase price of £40-45 is certainly achievable.

Factor in replacement brush heads which cost around £3 each and over 3 years, you will have a total ownership cost in the region of £75-80.

This is a fantastic price given the cleaning performance and dentist recommended features it boasts. It really is a must buy.

There are cheaper alternatives from Oral-B and other lesser known brands but these come with compromises.

Philips Sonicare has been and will continue to be a reputable alternative, but even their entry level 1100 Series works out about £35 more expensive. £157 is the ownership cost of the equivalently featured ProtectiveClean 4300. That is 2x the price!

Typically, my recommended model, the Pro 3 3500 is the same price if not cheaper than the Pro 3 3000. 

With dual handles, the 3 3900 will cost more. It has a retail price of £140.

If you want a peaceful brushing experience this isn’t for you — it’s loud

Oral-B brushes are amongst the loudest available today, with the Pro 3 registering 78 decibels.

It’s quite a mechanical noise that it makes, not a gentle humming sound like most sonic toothbrushes.

If you worry about waking others when you brush your teeth, the Pro 3 isn’t going to alleviate your concerns. And you will struggle to hear what others are saying should they speak to you as you brush.

The iO Series 3 from Oral-B produces 64 decibels, whilst SURI’s S1 sonic toothbrush is quieter still at 54.

3 cleaning modes to suit different preferences, but it defaults to Daily Clean

For the vast majority of us, 1 cleaning mode is all we need. I don’t use all 7 modes on my iO Series 9. 

You get 3 different modes on all variants of the Pro 3.

• Daily Clean 
• Sensitive
• Whitening 

Daily Clean is my preference and the one I recommend most people use. But, the option of Sensitive is great for those who want to enjoy a less intense cleaning action, or for those days your teeth or gums might feel a little more tender. 

Sensitive is also a great choice for first time electric toothbrush users. It makes for a more pleasing introduction to the increased power such brushes offer.

Don’t worry too much about which mode you use. Although differences exist, they are minimal, as our article on Oral-B brushing modes explains. Fundamentally, if used correctly, you will achieve a good clean with any.

No icons or labels to tell you which mode you’re using

Irrespective of your preference, the Pro 3 always defaults to Daily Clean.

You need to press the power button 3 times, each and every time you use it, if you want whitening mode. 

The button is a little firmer than some might like, but this does mean it’s not so easy to press it accidentally. You do get feedback from the button to confirm your press has been registered.

There are no icons, LEDs or labels to show or confirm what mode you have selected. You will learn them in time based on the sound and sensation, but they are ordered as above. 

It’s frustrating, as many competing brushes do have labels, but it’s just the way Oral-B design their mid-tier models. It’s an inconvenience and doesn’t stop me from using or recommending it.

The handle is easy to keep clean

Like most other electric brushes the Pro 3 has a cylindrical handle. Actually, it is not perfectly round, it’s slightly thicker than it is wide, but we are talking millimetres of difference.

It will stand upright on a countertop and strategically placed raised dots on the rear of the handle prevent the brush from rolling along a flat countertop.

Unlike the Smart 5 5000 and older models from Oral-B, the Pro 3 doesn’t have any large rubber panels on the handle to aid with grip. There’s a small section around the power button, but the result is a much cleaner look to the handle.

A softer, dimpled texture to the plastic body also replaces the raised lines that have adorned the rear of brush handles such as the Smart 4.

The brush isn’t slippy in hand by any means. It feels solid and generally secure. But, some might not be quite so enamoured with the more minimal look.

A positive consequence is the water resistant handle can be rinsed under the tap and easily cleaned off. You don’t get grime building up as it did in the contoured rubber grips.

Of plastic construction, there is a gloss finish to the handle, which is available primarily in white, black and soft pink colour. It is primarily cosmetic, but the matte finish of most Philips Sonicare and even Oral-B’s iO Series handles do look and feel better to the touch.

For lack of a better expression, it just makes the Pro 3 look and feel a bit ‘cheap’ in comparison. But, then again, it does cost a lot less.

You can’t repair it yourself, but you can extend the warranty from 2 to 3 years if you register

Compared to previous Oral-B models, the Pro 3 has a revised design. It is less proven, but the design limits wear and possible failure points. Internally the same tried and tested mechanics are used. Thus, a long usable life is expected.

By the very nature of the product they are not immune to failure, but on the whole reliability and durability is solid. I’ve not had any reason to question the build quality and the finish of the handle.

If for whatever reason you aren’t satisfied, Braun offers a 30 day money back guarantee.

2 years of manufacturer support is provided as standard, but this can be extended for free to a pretty generous 3 years, if you register the brush. You should be hopeful of 5+ years of service from the Pro 3. 

Environmental impact

Dr. Gemma Wheeler has looked in detail at the environmental impact of electric toothbrushes.

They are never going to be good for the planet, but there are ways to minimise their impact.

With regards to the Pro 3 3000 specifically; you get the essentials in the box and not lots of unnecessary extras which reduces its shipping weight. Unfortunately, the box is a little bigger than it needs to be.

Thankfully, Oral-B now uses all cardboard packaging, whereas polystyrene was previously used.

It is not a smart brush, thus reducing component usage and e-waste at the end of its life.

This is common amongst electric toothbrushes, but it has not been designed to be easily repaired by yourself. Trying to replace parts like the battery will likely break the brush. This makes it more likely to be discarded rather than repaired if broken.

While Oral-B has partnered with schemes such as TerraCycle in some countries, it does not yet have its own recycling scheme for used brush heads or faulty products.

Its brush heads are made from petroleum-based plastic, which uses up the planet’s finite resources compared to using plant-based plastics.

Our guide to eco-friendly dental health offers advice on steps you can take to reduce your own impact.