A throwaway item
My dentist highly recommended this toothbrush to massage my gums. It took some getting used to because of the high-speed vibrations that tickle the gums. My teeth felt smooth after use, just like getting a cleaning at the dentist's office.I set it aside after a year or two. Recently I decided to use it again after several years. It would not take a charge. I decided the batteries might need replacement and found a site on the Internet that explained how to dismantle the unit and replace the batteries. This unit is not designed for home or factory service. The parts and the batteries are anchored in epoxy at the factory. Considering that nickel-cadmium batteries last less than four or five years, this unit is fairly expensive , especially at the price I paid.Changing the batteries is a time consuming effort. Even after finishing the job, the toothbrush will not work. It is an expensive throwaway.