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Byte Review: Better than Invisalign and SmileDirectClub?
Last updated on September 22, 2022 13 Comments
Until recently, the only options for adults seeking straighter teeth were braces or Invisalign — but luckily, this is no longer the case. Today, at-home teeth straightening services like Byte offer a safe, convenient, and affordable alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment.
Byte has made it their priority to deliver a high-quality product and customer experience. Plus, they use industry-leading technology that can deliver highly efficient results. But is Byte the right fit for your smile goals? Read on to find out!
Pros and Cons of Byte
Byte vs. Other Home Aligners
Is Byte Right For You?
Is Byte A Good Treatment Option?
If you decide Byte is the right treatment option for you, be sure to take advantage of this special promotion. For a limited time, they're offering their impression kit for just $14.95. If you decide to purchase their full aligner treatment, you'll also receive $100 off plus a free BrightByte Pro LED Whitening Kit (normally $249).
Byte is an online service that ships custom clear aligners (also called “invisible braces”) directly to your home. Their aligners look and feel similar to Invisalign—they’re made of smooth, clear plastic, and designed to fit the contours of your teeth. However, unlike Invisalign, Byte treatment doesn’t require a single trip to the dentist.
Instead, Byte has a team of licensed dentists and orthodontists who prepare and monitor their treatment plans remotely. This allows them to offer clear aligner treatment for a fraction of the price of traditional aligners like Invisalign.
Byte is backed by Dentsply Sirona, one of the largest and most experienced dental manufacturers in the world.
In late 2020, Byte was acquired by Dentsply Sirona, a reputable dental manufacturing company that makes cleaning instruments, scanning machines, retainers, and virtually any other dental equipment you can imagine. Odds are, if you’ve ever been to a dentist or orthodontist, you’ve had a Dentsply Sirona product in your mouth.
So, what does this mean for potential Byte customers? It means their products are highly trustworthy and well-designed.
The “HyperByte” is a high-frequency vibration device that helps provide a more comfortable aligner fit and can encourage faster teeth movements.
There’s evidence that high-frequency devices like this can encourage faster dental shifts, and in Byte’s case, they boast an average treatment plan length of just 4-5 months. Just bite down on the HyperByte device for five minutes a day and the gentle high-frequency vibrations may help your aligners fit more comfortably and your teeth shift more easily. Of course, every smile is different, so the HyperByte will be more effective for some than others.
Once you’re done with Byte treatment, however, their Byte for Life Guarantee will keep your smile straight forever. If your teeth ever shift after treatment (though no fault of your own), even years down the road, Byte will correct it for free, as long as you replace your retainers every six months and wear them as instructed.
Before & After Byte Treatment
How Do I Get Started?
To create a personalized treatment plan for your unique teeth, Byte’s team of dentists needs to analyze your smile. This means you’ll need to order an impression kit from Byte and make molds of your teeth.
Once you’ve completed the impressions, send them back to Byte and their dentists will confirm whether you’re a good candidate for treatment. If you are, they’ll go ahead and develop your custom treatment plan and send you a digital preview of your post-treatment smile.
If you like what you see, give them the go-ahead to produce and ship your custom aligners. Keep in mind that you can request some tweaks to your proposed treatment plan if there’s something you don’t like.
For an in-depth look at each step of this process, visit our visual guide to getting started with Byte. We went through the entire process ourselves to help you get a realistic image of what Byte treatment entails.
Pros & Cons of Byte
Before you decide to move forward with Byte treatment, weigh the benefits and drawbacks to make sure it’s the right fit for you. We’ve sifted through the details of Byte’s service and compiled a list of the most important pros and cons:
Byte includes their "HyperByte" device in the cost of every treatment plan. This high-frequency vibration device uses gentle micro-pulses to help provide a more comfortable aligner fit and encourage faster dental shifts.
They put a lifetime guarantee on your smile. If your teeth shift after you complete Byte treatment — even years down the line — they'll give you new aligners to realign them for free, as long as you continue to replace your retainers every six months and wear them as directed.
Byte also offers nighttime-only treatment. Byte's "At-Night" aligners are made of thicker, grind-resistant plastic and only require ten hours of continuous wear per day.
Byte approves everyone for their financing plans. This means you can get started with treatment quickly and without impacting your credit score.
The My Byte app is a one-stop hub where you can view your treatment details, get notifications on when to switch aligners, track your HyperByte use, submit photos for remote check-ins, and live chat with customer support.
They don't currently have any physical teeth-scanning locations, so you'll need to order an impression kit to get started with Byte treatment, which isn’t always as convenient as getting teeth scans from a professional.
Byte only started selling aligners in 2018. Although they've accumulated tons of positive customer reviews since then, they still don't have as extensive a track record as SmileDirectClub or decades of experience like Invisalign.
So, Do the Pros Outweigh the Cons?
In many cases, yes! Byte is a great option for anyone with a mild or moderate misalignment who wants a comfortable and long-lasting smile transformation. Their HyperByte device can help provide a more comfortable aligner fit and encourage faster dental shifts, and their Byte-for-Life Guarantee ensures your results will last a lifetime.
Just like other home-based clear aligner treatment products, Byte is primarily designed for cosmetic issues and can’t correct significant teeth and jaw misalignments like Invisalign can. But thanks to their premium materials and technology, they’re one of the more effective at-home aligner systems available.
Byte is best-suited for mild and moderate misalignments.
Byte can effectively correct mild crowding and spacing, and potentially slight bite issues, which is fairly standard among at-home aligner treatments. But when it comes to severe cases and jaw misalignments, their treatment can’t often deliver the same results.
In-office clear aligners like Invisalign provide hands-on care from a dentist over a longer period of time and can incorporate attachments that encourage more complex shifts, allowing them to treat a wider scope of dental and jaw issues.
Byte works with licensed dentists & orthodontists to prepare and oversee their treatment plans.
Byte’s remote dental team can safely and efficiently correct most mild-to-moderate dental misalignments, including crowding, spacing, and minor bite issues. To make sure Byte is a good option for you, the company provides a 3D preview of your “after” shot, how your teeth will look post-treatment. If you like what you see, they’ll produce and ship your aligners right away. But if you have concerns, there’s no obligation to continue.
You won’t have as much oversight throughout Byte treatment as you would with traditional options like braces or Invisalign.
Most clear aligner brands offer some type of regular oversight. Some employ “remote monitoring” throughout the process — photo check-ins every few weeks — while traditional in-office options like Invisalign and ClearCorrect require office visits every 4–6 weeks. This helps the dentist or dental team keep you on track and handle any issues that arise. Byte, however, doesn’t incorporate either kind of oversight unless you have a certain complex condition.
Byte recommends that you regularly upload photos of your teeth through their My Byte app, but they don’t require it unless you have certain conditions. If you complete these photo check-ins, Byte’s dental team can keep your treatment on track and ensure that you get the results you want.
Byte uses high-frequency vibration technology to help achieve faster and more comfortable dental shifts.
Something that makes Byte stand out from other clear aligner treatments, including Invisalign, is their use of technology to improve treatment effectiveness. They are constantly looking to blaze new trails in the industry and have developed two key technologies that no other company offers: Smile Science and HyperByte.
Byte’s Smile Science treatment development software is very unique. It analyzes your entire facial structure, rather than just your teeth (like most other options, including Invisalign). They also employ special training procedures outlined by Byte founder and Chief Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. John Marashi.
But how does Byte achieve such customized and impressive adjustments so quickly? The HyperByte. It might sound like a comic book name, but there’s evidence that the HyperByte device can shorten treatment times. Using gentle, high-frequency vibrations for five minutes a day, the HyperByte tool helps provide comfortable, better-fitting aligners and can encourage faster dental shifts. Byte is the only provider that includes this type of device in their aligner bundle.
Byte’s aligners are made from a special PETG material.
Most popular aligner brands use either PET, PETG, or polyurethane plastic. Polyurethane is a premium material with special properties that make it especially crack-resistant, comfortable, and effective for thin aligners. On the other hand, it is also more expensive to produce quality aligners using polyurethane, making PET and PETG popular alternatives.
Byte has informed us that they make their aligners with a special PETG material. Their aligners are also quite thin, which means they are likely less noticeable, and you may find them more comfortable to wear than aligners that use thicker material. On the other hand, one potential downside with thin, PETG aligners is that they may be more prone to cracks or breakage, requiring replacements. However, if you break an aligner, Byte will replace it for free under the Byte Protection Plan, or for $59 if you don’t have the Byte Protection Plan.
It’s also worth noting that Byte’s At-Night aligners are made from a thicker, more premium material than their All-Day aligners. This is because some people bite down on the aligners in their sleep, exposing them to greater wear and tear. So even if you’re a nighttime teeth grinder, Byte’s At-Night aligners could still be an effective choice for you.
Between their unique vibration technology, expert clinical team, and Smile Science software, we think Byte is one of the most effective at-home teeth straightening services on the market.
Historically, the high price tag for braces and Invisalign has made teeth alignment a significant investment. And because it’s often a purely cosmetic treatment, some health insurers don’t cover it, or they only reimburse a portion of the cost.
A major benefit of at-home teeth straightening systems like Byte is the price point, especially compared to in-office treatments like Invisalign or ClearCorrect, which can cost $3,000–$8,000. Byte can’t claim the lowest price on the at-home aligner market, but they still present a pretty solid value.
The total cost to purchase an aligner kit from Byte is $1,999 for All-Day aligners and $2,399 for At-Night treatment. This is higher than some other at-home aligner options but includes free whitening, aftercare retainers, and the HyperByte device.
This sticker price covers the cost of your treatment plan, clear aligners, teeth whitening, and the HyperByte device, but not your impression kit (which is $95). Byte also includes your first set of retainers with the purchase price, which will save you some money at the end of your treatment. Other services, like SmileDirectClub, do not include retainers in the initial price and instead upsell the retainer at the end of treatment for around $100.
That’s a strong value, especially when you compare Byte’s price to in-office clear aligner options like Invisalign, which usually cost at least $3,000 and can be as much as $8,000.
Byte offers multiple payment plan options.
Even though Byte is much cheaper than braces or Invisalign, not everyone has $1,999 sitting under their mattress. To help make treatment more financially accessible, Byte offers a couple of flexible payment options.
Interested in financing, but concerned about your credit score? Byte is one of just a few providers with a 100% approval rate. Their financing plan, called BytePay™, requires a $249 down payment followed by $70 per month for 36 months. Choose Byte At-Night, however, and that increases to a $299 down payment, then $84 per month.
Or, if you’re confident in your credit score, you can undergo a credit check to apply for financing with no down payment through a third-party affiliate called Affirm.
The “Byte Protection Plan” costs more up front, but can save money in the long run.
Instead of paying $129 for replacement retainers every six months, with the Byte Protecion Plan, you’ll automatically receive new retainers for five years, whether you lose them, break them, or another six months have simply passed. If you choose to finance your treatment via BytePay, you can add the Byte Protection Plan to your financing plan for as little as $22/mo. It may cost more initially, but over the course of five years, you’ll spend less than you would purchasing replacements individually.
If your insurance plan has orthodontic benefits, Byte treatment may be partially covered.
Since home-based clear aligner treatment is fairly new, the process of claiming insurance reimbursement can be complicated. More and more insurance providers are working out the kinks and starting to cover this form of treatment, but getting reimbursed for treatment can still be a hassle.
Byte has worked hard to make this process as easy as possible for its customers. With Byte, every patient that has insurance coverage gets their own dedicated insurance specialist (separate from their Byte advisor). This specialist helps them speak to the insurance companies and process the reimbursement forms.
Insurance companies can be more likely to cover in-office clear aligners like Candid or Invisalign than Byte and other at-home options. Plus, if your dentist or orthodontist accepts your insurance, they’ll handle the entire process. You’ll just provide them with your insurance info, and they’ll take it from there.
Byte isn’t the most affordable option on the market, but they still offer strong value, as well as various payment plans, including ones that don’t require down payments or credit checks, making treatment more accessible.
Aside from cost, one of the biggest barriers to pursuing a more comfortable smile is the time commitment of traditional orthodontics. Finding time to visit the dentist’s office in between all of your other responsibilities might not top your priority list.
Home aligner services like Byte make the process more convenient by shipping the aligners to your home, so you spend less time in the patient chair and more time living life. Most home aligners treatments achieve your desired results in half a year, much faster than the typical 18+ months for braces and 12 months for Invisalign. And Byte takes it to the next level, with an average treatment plan length of just 4-5 months.
At-home teeth straightening is, in general, more convenient than seeing a dentist month after month, but Byte goes above and beyond to make teeth straightening as efficient and user-friendly as possible.
To get started, you’ll need to take molds of your teeth using Byte’s impression kit.
Many customers find that the most difficult part of at-home teeth straightening is getting started. To create your treatment plan, the company will need a way to analyze your current smile. All at-home options, including Byte, offer a kit that you can use at home to make molds of your teeth.
To create these impressions, you mix together two different types of putty and place the mixture in a teeth tray. Then, carefully bite down on the prepared tray and the putty will surround your teeth, creating a mold. Using this mold, the company will determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for treatment and, if so, prepare your treatment plan.
Most people have never taken a mold of their own teeth, so the impression kit can be challenging. But Byte thought ahead. To help customers succeed, they send two sets of putty and teeth trays. So if you mess up the first one, there’s no need to panic. Customer support is also available to walk you through the process and make sure everything goes smoothly. Still, some customers find that taking impressions can be surprisingly tricky. Don’t worry, though — if Byte can’t use your first sets of impressions, they’ll send you another kit in the mail.
This isn’t as convenient as going to a professional for dental scans, which is an option with some other clear aligner options. SmileDirectClub, for example, maintains 300+ retail locations where you can receive free scans. Or, if you go with an in-office option, your dentist or orthodontist will take X-rays and scans at your initial office visit.
Expect to wait around four weeks total before you start treatment.
After you order your impression kit, assuming you complete and send back the kit ASAP, you can expect to receive your clear aligners within four weeks of your purchase date. This is faster than many competitors.
Byte also offers a nighttime-only treatment option
If you have a busy lifestyle or you’re not confident sticking to an all-day aligner schedule, you’re not alone. That’s why Byte provides an alternate, nighttime-only treatment called Byte At-Night. Using this plan, you only need to wear your aligners for ten hours per day (presumably while you sleep) instead of 22+ hours per day. This extends the average treatment plan length to 5-6 months, but you won’t need to wear your aligners to work, on dates, or for other special occasions.
This is Byte’s premium treatment, and the aligners are specially designed to exert more force over shorter periods of time, so it also costs slightly more. You’ll pay $2,399 for At-Night treatment compared to $1,999 for an All-Day plan.
Treatment takes 4-5 months on average.
Most at-home aligner treatments take around six months to complete their transformations, and in-office options like Invisalign often take one year or more. Byte, on the other hand, boasts a 4-5 month average, thanks in part to their HyperByte device.
Your overall treatment time depends heavily on your specific condition, so not everyone will see their final results in 4-5 months. Some aligner plans might take longer.
Keep in mind that choosing the nighttime-only schedule will lengthen your treatment time. On average, Byte’s nighttime treatment plans take 5-6 months, which is still fairly efficient compared to most clear aligner options.
While most at-home aligner companies mail all of your aligners at once, Byte sends 11–15 weeks’ worth at a time. This is so that they can periodically evaluate your progress and make any necessary adjustments before producing your next group of aligners.
Be sure to keep all of your Byte aligners after, even after you’re done using them! Byte often requests photos of your used aligners at each check-in. If you don’t have your old aligners, you could end up paying up to $899 for the rest of your treatment.
Byte includes teeth whitening as part of your treatment.
Some whitening products aren’t compatible with clear aligners, so you’d need to wait until after your treatment to use them. But you can pump BrightByte whitening foam directly into your aligners before putting them on, straightening and brightening your teeth simultaneously.
They don’t have any retail locations at the moment, but Byte’s efficient treatment times and nighttime-only option, combined with the opportunity to whiten your teeth during the treatment process, still make it pretty convenient.
Adults hoping to straighten their teeth are often reluctant to attend an interview, date, meeting, or special occasion sporting metal brackets. For this reason, clear aligners’ low profile—especially when compared to braces—is a key selling point. Because they’re so discreet, clear aligners are aesthetically pleasing options, and Byte is no exception.
That said, not all clear aligners look exactly the same. While all clear aligners use transparent, BPA-free plastic, each brand looks slightly different due to variations in materials and manufacturing processes.
Byte uses smooth, shiny plastic to craft their aligners.
This material looks slightly different than the slightly frosted aligners from Candid, SmileDirectClub, or Invisalign. Frosted aligners can look somewhat more natural than shiny ones because natural teeth are porous (that’s why they can absorb stains from coffee and red wine).
Those pores make natural teeth appear matte, not smooth and shiny, so matte aligners may draw less attention. But different people have different aesthetic preferences, and some customers actually like the plastic’s shininess. They feel it makes their smile gleam. The smooth, shiny plastic Byte uses shouldn’t necessarily deter you, but it is something to consider when making your decision.
Byte cuts their aligners straight across the top, rather than trimming them to follow the gumline.
Since Byte’s straight-cut aligners cover the gums, others may be able to see where the aligners end when you smile, but most customers don’t find straight-cut aligners more noticeable than scalloped ones.
Besides, straight-cut aligners serve an important function. With in-office clear aligner treatments like Invisalign, a dentist will typically place special attachments on the teeth that help anchor the clear aligners in place, shifting the teeth more effectively. Since home aligners like Byte don’t involve in-person visits, these attachments are not an option. A straight cut, though arguably less ideal appearance-wise, helps grip the teeth better and can apply up to 4x the amount of force.
Byte doesn’t add any attachments to your aligners.
Invisalign and ClearCorrect can add elastics and affix small attachments to your teeth surfaces to help their aligners make more complex dental shifts. While incredibly useful, these attachments also make your aligners more noticeable.
Byte doesn’t use any supplementary attachments, so their aligners are slightly less powerful than in-office brands, but they’re also more discreet.
With Byte At-Night, you won’t even need to wear your aligners in public.
Remember the nighttime treatment option? Go that route and no one will ever notice your aligners because you’ll never wear them out during the day. Just pop them in after dinner, then remove them as part of your morning routine.
Like other clear aligner brands, you’ll want to take out your aligners before eating and drinking to avoid stains.
All clear aligners are susceptible to stains from food and beverages—that’s why it’s important to remove them before eating or drinking anything other than plain water. Byte aligners are reasonably stain-resistant, although we certainly wouldn’t recommend drinking anything other than water with your aligners in.
Like most clear aligner services, Byte’s aligners are quite inconspicuous, though you’ll want to make sure you like the glossy appearance before moving forward with treatment.
Dental treatment is expensive, and you only have one set of teeth. It’s important to feel completely confident that your treatment provider will treat you right and have your back if anything goes wrong. Byte provides a more supportive, satisfying customer experience than most of their at-home competitors, although it’s still not quite as personalized as the care you’d receive from a dentist with an in-office option.
Byte offers 100% US-based customer support and is very responsive on all channels.
Byte provides several avenues to contact support and offers extensive online resources, so it’s easy to get your questions answered. Byte is available by phone on weekdays from 8am–6pm Pacific time as well as via email and social media. If you reach out on social media, you can expect a response within 24 hours.
In addition, each patient is assigned their own Byte advisor, who also helps answer questions and checks in via email throughout the patient’s journey. It’s like having your own personal guide to the process.
This doesn’t quite give you the same hands-on touch of treatments that incorporate in-person care like Invisalign and Candid, since you won’t have consistent access to your specific dentist. But for a fully remote treatment, Byte does a great job providing personalized support.
The My Byte app makes it easy to keep track of your aligners, track your progress, and contact customer support.
This convenient mobile app contains all your custom treatment information and helps you stay on top of your aligner plan. On this central hub, you can get notifications for when to change aligner sets, upload your check-in photos for review, track your HyperByte usage, and chat with customer service representatives. It’s an easy way to make sure that your teeth are progressing as expected and stay in touch with Byte.
The Byte for Life Guarantee means your new smile is forever.
Byte’s refund policy is standard compared to most other home aligner companies. If Byte determines you are not a good candidate for treatment, they will refund the cost of your impression kit. They don’t usually offer a refund if you’re simply dissatisfied with your treatment progress. However, if your teeth aren’t shifting as expected, they’re happy to work with you to create free refinement aligners, as long as you’ve followed your aligner plan exactly and used your HyperByte every day.
Their Byte for Life Guarantee takes customer care to the next level. After completing your treatment, if your teeth shift at any point in the future, the company will send you new aligners to help you regain your smile, free of charge. Be sure to wear your retainer as instructed and purchase new ones every six months, or you may void this guarantee.
With a highly responsive customer support team, a generous Byte for Life Guarantee, and a reliable protection program, Byte delivers a highly satisfying customer experience.
Ready to Get Started With Byte?
If you decide Byte is the right treatment option for you, be sure to take advantage of this special promotion. For a limited time, they're offering their impression kit for just $14.95. If you decide to purchase their full aligner treatment, you'll also receive $100 off plus a free BrightByte Pro LED Whitening Kit (normally $249).
What Are Byte Customers Saying?
When we review a company like Byte, we start by digging through online user reviews to understand the common issues customers face. Generally, Byte users express positivity and satisfaction with their experience. They often say they chose Byte because they appreciated the convenience of a shorter treatment plan, and liked that the HyperByte device could eliminate much of the discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment.
Some customers, however, have noted that Byte’s aligners didn’t straighten their teeth as much as they’d expected, and they had to seek refinements, extending their treatment time quite a bit. Others expressed satisfaction with their results, but frustration with the customer service back-and-forth. These cases seem to be the exception rather than the rule, but they’re definitely something to consider as you research various aligners.
In the cases where something goes wrong, it seems like Byte worked to resolve the issue. Many users also note that the HyperByte device really helps their aligners feel more comfortable, and that they notice more discomfort if they’re not using HyperByte regularly.
For a realistic look at the Byte customer experience, check out the unbiased Byte reviews we’ve gathered from our readers. Or, take a look at these video reviews some of our readers have submitted at various stages of the treatment process.
Although Invisalign and Byte have a lot in common, there are some important differences to note. Both treatments involve clear aligners designed to improve the patient’s smile, but Byte is more convenient and affordable since it’s a direct-to-consumer company. Invisalign can only be administered at a dentist or orthodontist, making it more expensive and time-intensive, but it’s a more personalized treatment, capable of correcting more severe cases and jaw misalignments. Below we’ll compare these two options in terms of cost, convenience, effectiveness, and the details of their treatment plans.
Byte is much more cost-effective because it does not require in-person visits with a dental professional. These office visits make up a large percentage of Invisalign’s price, so by eliminating them, Byte drastically reduces its sticker price. Byte’s total cost is $1,999 or $2,399 (before insurance), while Invisalign costs between $3,000 and $8,000 (before insurance).
Since Byte is delivered by mail and does not require in-person visits, it fits a busy lifestyle more easily than Invisalign. On top of that, the 4-5 month average treatment plan means you’ll spend a lot less time wearing your aligners than the 12 months (on average) required for Invisalign. Their nighttime-only treatment plans, which typically last 5-6 months — are still much shorter than Invisalign. However, this difference is in part because Invisalign often treats severe misalignments that require more time to correct.
For smiles that only need mild-to-moderate adjustments, Byte is just as effective as Invisalign. Invisalign shines in correcting complicated dental issues, like severe bite misalignments. Invisalign is a better option for complex cases because the in-person treatment allows a dentist to apply advanced techniques as part of your treatment plan. An Invisalign treatment plan may include the use of attachments, buttons, and bands — which cannot be applied at home but may be required for the best results.
When a patient signs up to receive Invisalign treatment, their dentist or orthodontist can either be very involved with the treatment plan or not involved at all. What does this mean? Let’s say you go to see your dentist and opt to begin Invisalign treatment. The dentist takes images of your teeth and then sends them to Invisalign, where a technician creates your treatment plan. Your personal, hometown dentist can either make changes to your technician-created plan or leave it as is.
Byte assigns you a licensed dentist who will create your aligner plan. If there are any complications during your treatment, your Byte advisor can elevate them to this dentist, who can make adjustments or request refinements. Although if you’re looking for hands-on, in-person care, Invisalign could be a better fit.
Byte vs. Other Home Aligners
Byte is a great clear aligner company, and we’re confident they will give you a great treatment experience. But you shouldn’t jump to a decision without weighing all your options, both in-office and at-home.
Invisalign is the primary in-office option, and while it is more expensive than home aligners, dentists can achieve more advanced teeth movements by adding attachments and appliances. The clear aligner field is crowded, and there are a couple of great options worth considering.
Candid blends in-person care with at-home monitoring to deliver an innovative hybrid treatment approach. They have a network of 300+ providers nationwide, and you’ll schedule an office visit with one to start your treatment. This dentist will provide Candid service and remain involved throughout the process. After that onboarding appointment, you’ll use their CandidMonitoring system to submit images of your teeth every 14 days. Your dentist and Candid’s team will evaluate these photos and collaborate to keep you on track.
Because Candid treatment is administered by a local dentist, their price is higher than Byte’s — typically $3,500 or more, depending on your dentist’s rates. And their average treatment time is 6–9 months. But if you’re looking for hands-on care paired with at-home convenience, it’s definitely worth a look.
SmileDirectClub stands out as the largest and most popular at-home clear aligner brand. They have 300+ retail locations across the country, which makes getting started slightly easier depending on where you live. They’ve also served over 1.5 million customers, making them the most experienced home aligner company out there.
Is Byte Right for You?
We think Byte is the best treatment option for anyone who wants a fast, comfortable, and long-lasting smile transformation. Their HyperByte technology can shorten treatment times, and their Byte for Life Guarantee ensures your results will last a lifetime.
Get $180 Off Byte
Does Byte offer discounts?
Does Byte offer discounts?
They do! You just need to know where to look. If you’re a student or a member of the military, you can get up to $150 off your aligners anytime. And if you subscribe to Byte’s emails, you might receive occasional special offers for discounted aligners or impression kits. Glance over our comprehensive Byte discount guide for all the ways you can decrease your costs.
Can Byte correct my condition?
Can Byte correct my condition?
It depends. Byte is extremely effective in treating mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing, but it might not be able to correct jaw misalignments like overbite, underbite, crossbite, etc. The only way to know for sure is to complete an impression kit. After evaluating your teeth, Byte’s dentists will let you know if their aligners can make the shifts you need.
The clear aligner originator has its own set of unique benefits, most notably in-person care. During regular face-to-face checkups, your dentist can make adjustments to your treatment and add attachments that allow Invisalign to treat a wider scope of cases. Byte is faster and less expensive, but Invisalign is a great option if your condition is severe or you’d prefer to meet with your dentist in person. Our Invisalign review has a ton more information if you’re interested.
How much will I end up paying?
How much will I end up paying?
Even though Byte’s sticker price is $1,999 (or $2,399 for Byte At-Night), there are numerous factors that can influence cost, including discounts, financing, insurance, refinements, and more. In most cases, you won’t end up paying exactly $1,999, but it will likely be close. Read through our guide on the true cost of Byte for a more complete look at price influencers.
How do I get started?
How do I get started?
To determine your treatment candidacy and develop your aligner plan, Byte’s dentists need to analyze your teeth. Order, complete, and submit an impression kit and they’ll respond with a treatment plan that shows every step in the process. Check out our visual guide to getting started with Byte for in-depth guidance on completing your impression kit, choosing a payment plan, and more.
How long will it take?
How long will it take?
Byte’s average treatment plan length is just 4-5 months, but each case is unique, meaning it could take longer or even shorter depending on the severity and complexity of your condition. Go with their at-night treatment and you’ll be looking at an average of 5-6 months instead.
Does insurance cover Byte’s treatment?
Does insurance cover Byte’s treatment?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Certain providers label at-home aligners a “cosmetic” treatment and refuse to cover it. But if your plan includes orthodontic benefits, you might receive partial coverage. Check with your insurance provider to see if you can get partial reimbursement for your treatment.
What is the cheapest home aligner service?
What is the cheapest home aligner service?
Home aligner services have drastically reduced the cost of teeth-straightening service, but that doesn’t mean they fit perfectly in every budget. If you’re a cost-conscious shopper, check out AlignerCo. Their sticker price is only $1,145, making them the most affordable service out there (by far). Our full AlignerCo review has more info, and you can find other budget-friendly options in our guide to the 3 most affordable at-home clear aligners.
What is the most effective clear aligner company?
What is the most effective clear aligner company?
If you prefer an in-office treatment, you can’t go wrong with Invisalign. Their aligners can correct even severe misalignments. Candid’s hybrid treatment incorporates in-person care and at-home monitoring, making their dentist-directed aligner plans pretty effective too.
For more information and other options, see our guide to the 3 most effective at-home clear aligners.
Do clear aligners hurt?
Do clear aligners hurt?
When you switch to a new aligner set every two weeks, you might experience some discomfort for the first day or two, but after that, you’ll hardly notice them.
Is home aligner treatment safe?
Is home aligner treatment safe?
Yes! While administering treatment from home might seem daunting, the process is very safe. Home aligner companies use licensed dentists to create your treatment plan and design your aligners. Even though you won’t meet with them in-person, each company offers robust customer support services if something doesn’t feel quite right. Read our guide to safe home teeth straightening treatment for more information.
SmileDirectClub vs. Byte: An Honest Comparison
Candid vs. Byte: An Honest Comparison
Invisalign vs. Byte: How They Actually Compare
The 3 Best Alternatives to Byte (Reviewed & Ranked)
At-Home Teeth Aligners: Too Good to Be True?
Byte Customer Reviews (Before & After Byte Treatment)
Pursuing orthodontic treatment as an adult can feel stressful and overwhelming. At Smile Prep, we strive to make the process as easy as possible for our readers. Our guides and reviews cut the fluff and give you the information necessary to take a confident step toward your smile goals.
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Still have questions about at-home teeth straightening? Post them on our Braces and Clear Aligners Support Group, and we'll do our best to help answer them.
September 26, 2021 at 7:17 pm
I have upper dentures which have caused my bottom teeth to shift. Can Byte align just my bottom teeth?
October 20, 2021 at 1:34 am
Hi Joanne, Byte doesn’t ordinarily offer single arch treatment, as they feel they can achieve better alignment of patients’ overall bite profile when treating both arches. With that said, your circumstance is rather unique, so I’d suggest reaching out directly to Byte’s support team with your question.
July 28, 2021 at 6:34 pm
I would avoid Byte, given a chance to do it again.
I got sent my box of aligners and had 11 upper and 15 lower aligners to go through. Each set was numbered X out of 11, or X out of 15, respectively.
I went through the whole program and noticed there was a gap that developed in my two front teeth, and my lower teeth still had the same issues. I waited a month and a half after the program, continuing daily use. Finally, after my aligner cracking, I reached out to see if I could get a replacement for my 15/15 aligner.
I found out that I was actually not done with my aligners, that I had a whole new set for the bottom?!? Byte never reached out to follow up to notify me that I had a new set. I wish I would’ve known, but fine, I go ahead and send the request to get the remaining aligners, which require follow-up pictures etc.
Two days after I send the request for the second set I get no response, so I decide to follow up and call. I find out that there is a “air gap” between my aligners and my teeth and that I need to go back a few sets. That would be fine if I didn’t think I was done with my aligners a month and a half ago, thus getting rid of all but the last two pairs (in case I have to go back one), and since one is damaged that leaves me with aligner for the bottom.
Since I had no idea I wasn’t done until I got my last aligner damaged and had to call, I was put in a situation where I was no longer covered and my only options now are to pay to have an impression done all over again ($899), with no real explanation or solution for the gap in my front teeth of which I finished the full 11/11 aligners.
August 27, 2021 at 2:19 pm
Thanks for sharing your experience.
We’re fans of Byte – but I do think they need to work on explaining more clearly that they often split up shipment of aligners into 2 batches for longer cases, and the importance of holding onto older pairs of aligners to avoid the situation you wound up in. For our part, we’ll work on explaining this issue more clearly in our review.
Thanks again for sharing your experience. I hope you’re able to get this matter resolved in a positive way. And assuming you decide to continue treatment with Byte, I’d be grateful if you could provide an update, or leave a full review at the conclusion of your treatment.
July 13, 2020 at 6:46 pm
I had braces 30 years ago. My teeth are shifting and I have at least half a dozen crowns, will this be a problem?
July 14, 2020 at 3:06 pm
It’s our understanding that home teeth aligner companies like SmileDirectClub and byte rarely decline to provide treatment to prospective patients on account of dental crowns, and that clear aligners are typically capable of shifting crowned teeth (but not dental implants). With that said, here are a couple of things you’ll probably want to keep in mind.
First, teeth aligners do carry some risk of damaging your teeth or gums if you have an underlying dental health condition (e.g. untreated cavities, periodontal disease etc). We strongly recommend that everyone get their teeth checked out by a dentist before starting at-home clear aligner treatment, and *especially* if they have had a lot of dental work in the past.
Second, there appears to be some risk that clear aligners may loosen or otherwise damage your crowns. We have heard that certain aligner companies inform new, prospective patients of this risk. The risk appears to be greatest with crowns that are already somewhat loose.
Hope that’s helpful, and please note that we are not dental professionals! Once again, if you are planning to move forward with an at-home treatment option, we strongly encourage you to get a checked out your local dentist before getting started with treatment (and ideally once during treatment as well!).
May 31, 2020 at 10:06 am
A misleading article. There is no science to back the claim that the hyper Ute accelerator can move teeth faster. Saying that Byte can move teeth faster than Invisalign is simply not true. Teeth can only move so fast without experiencing bone resorption. Slow and steady is the mantra for orthodontic treatment. Then to say that because a doctor isn’t moving the teeth, it’s not as hands on? Don’t think for a second that Byte doctors are moving the teeth. Technicians are moving the teeth. Docs are simply approving the movement. Anyone who is reading this article, please do your homework. The claims here are filled with misinformation.
June 1, 2020 at 11:41 am
Thanks for sharing these concerns, which others may share. Let me try to address both of them.
While Hyperbyte may sound like science fiction, there’s actually a lot of research that supports the use of high frequency vibration technology to facilitate faster orthodontic treatment. Here are a couple of supportive findings:
In addition to clinical trials, a number of orthodontists are reporting success using vibration technology in their practices to support faster treatment, with less pain. Here’s one example.
Admittedly, as might be expected with a newer technology, not all clinical trials have been equally supportive. This 2018 meta study reaches a more conservative conclusion about the current evidence for the effectiveness of this kind of technology.
It’s our understanding that technicians (using advanced software) are indeed involved in creating byte customer treatment plans. This is really no different than purchasing Invisalign from a local dentist/orthodontist, who similarly rely on technicians to develop their initial treatment plans. Ultimately, byte’s orthodontists are responsible for reviewing and approving the safety and quality of each treatment plan, and for making any needed adjustments before and during treatment.
April 30, 2020 at 11:12 am
I had my braces removed last October and lost my retainer in January my two front teeth and one tooth at the bottom shifted a little would Byte still charge me the full price if my case is mild
May 3, 2020 at 2:38 pm
Hi Adriana, our understanding is that byte does not offer discounts for milder cases (we’re not aware of any home aligner company that does). With that said, it could be worth reaching out to byte support to double check. Best of luck!
October 10, 2019 at 10:31 pm
I have had THE best experience with Byte after being turned down by Smile Direct due to moderate overcrowding on my bottom teeth. The Byte impression kit is easy to use and in my opinion has a better quality molding putty than Smile Direct. Customer service is incredible & responsive. I have almost completed my treatment plan and am absolutely thrilled with my results!
My adult son is currently using Smile Direct & like other reviews I’ve seen customer support is an issue, not responsive in a timely manner. I am not affiliated with Byte in any way, just one happy customer sharing my experience!
October 10, 2019 at 10:32 pm
Thanks for sharing your positive experience with byte!
July 31, 2019 at 11:18 am
I did not have a good experience with Byte and ended up with Smile Direct because they offer the scan process at a local site rather than the impressions kit. Companies like Byte need a better option than the impressions kit or additional sizes for the molding trays rather than just large and small. All in all, Byte process was time consuming and frustrating with the kit and the back and forth. Smile Direct was quick and easy with the scanning at the local shop.
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