With the (almost) impossible task of finding an NHS dentist these days, it's never been more important to prioritise our dental cares. There are lots of gadgets that can help us do this, ranging from the best electric toothbrushes to the best water flossers. If you're a retainer or dentures wearer, you could even try a dental appliance cleaner.
Launched earlier this year, the Sonic Spa Pro is a device that's specially designed to clean all varieties of dental appliances, including aligners, retainers, dentures, mouth guards, toothbrush heads and more. With a limited amount of competitors on the market, I was eager to give it a go, especially as a retainer wearer myself.
Sonic Spa Pro review: price and availability
The Sonic Spa Pro is available in Pearl White (a rather appropriate name) or Onyx Black, and there are two purchasing bundles to choose from. The Spa Bundle is priced at £89.95 and includes the device itself and six cleaning tablets. The Spa Bundle Plus is £99.95 and includes 36 cleaning tablets.
At the time of writing this, both bundles are reduced by £20. Take a look:
Sonic Spa Pro review: unboxing and set up
The Sonic Spa Pro came in one piece, alongside some instructions and a 20w plug. I received the Spa Bundle Plus, so there were also 36 cleaning tablets included. I soon realised it was a very simple device to use, and I liked its compact size and shape.
It obviously can't be used in the bathroom due to the power cable, but it looked fine positioned on my dressing table when in use.
Sonic Spa Pro review: design and features
When it comes to its design, the device itself measures about 12cm by 10cm, so it's perfectly compact. My retainers fit perfectly inside, but it's also big enough for other dental appliances, such as dentures and toothbrush heads.
It has a high quality feel, and I loved the matte white design. It's not heavy, but it has a premium weight which is appealing.
The Sonic Spa Pro doesn't have that many features, but it does have two cleaning modes. The normal mode is a three minute session and ideal for a daily clean in the mornings. The deep clean is little more effective, lasting for five minutes.
The device's Steribrite Technology combines 43,000 Hz of ultrasonic cleaning with UV-C light, killing 99.9% of bacteria, viruses and pathogens. It's impressive that the Sonic Spa Pro has this kind of technology alongside its cleaning tablets, meaning it will still clean your dental appliances if you'd rather just use water. There aren't a lot of models that have this, so it does explain the higher price point.
There isn't an option to use the device without the UV-C light, so if you're not sure about its effects, I'd recommend you go for a simpler model. I didn't have this problem, and after using the SURI Sustainable Sonic Toothbrush's UV-C travel case, it's now a feature I purposefully look out for in dental cleaning appliances.
Sonic Spa Pro review: performance
I've enjoyed using the Sonic Spa Pro, and found it to be really effective in its results. After a few tries, I decided that I liked cleaning my retainer each morning on normal mode for three minutes. I found the water was enough for a quick rinse, so I didn't use a cleaning tablet. I then used the deep clean mode twice a week with a cleaning tablet, which felt a little more vigorous.
It was really useful how quick the two modes are, and I was able to just pop it on when brushing my teeth. The device itself is also incredibly easy to use, with both modes activated by holding the power button down (two seconds for normal mode and five seconds for deep clean mode).
You unfortunately can't get away from the high-pitched noise it makes when on, which I did find a little irritating. However, it's not loud and as mentioned, only lasts a few minutes.
Overall, the Sonic Spa Pro efficiently cleansed my retainer every time I used it, which I found to be significantly cleaned more than ever before. I was really happy with the results, and can't imagine not using a dental appliance cleaner ever again.
Sonic Spa Pro review: verdict
I've enjoyed testing the Sonic Spa Pro and it's now a key part of my morning routine. It's an extremely easy piece of kit to use, and its high tech features ensure an efficient and powerful clean. There's no denying that it is on the pricey side and the high pitched operational noise can be annoying, but its high quality design and effective results justify this. I'd recommend the Sonic Spa Pro to anyone.
Sonic Spa Pro review: alternative to consider
One alternative to consider would be the ZIMA Dental Pod. It has a very similar price to the Sonic Spa Pro (RRP £79.99) and also uses high-frequency 42,000hz ultrasonic waves to effectively clean a range of dental appliances. However, it only has one cleaning mode and doesn't come with any cleaning tablets, so you get a bit more for your buck with the Sonic Spa Pro.
