The evolution of clear aligner therapy has revolutionized aesthetic dentistry and orthodontics, which increased the number of patients keen to get their teeth straightened. And in a world where you can get pretty much everything online, it is no surprise that you can start your clear aligners journey without visiting your dentist, just like Byte Aligners.
According to a survey by Dusseja et al., almost 70.7% of respondents were unwilling to visit dental clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 80.5% of the participants were in favor of teledentistry to resolve their dental problems.
An affordable option with refundable impression kits, free HyperByte, and Byte for Life guarantee
75% Off Your Impression Kit + Free Teeth Whitening with your aligners
What are Byte Aligners?
Byte Aligners are at-home clear aligner therapy suitable for patients looking at straightening their teeth conveniently in the comforts of their home. They are ideal for patients with mild to moderate spacing and crowding issues. Byte connects you with a skilled network of licensed dentists and orthodontists across the U.S. to create a treatment plan, oversee your treatment, and help you get your dream smile.
Pros of Byte Aligners
- Get your clear aligners without visiting a dentist or orthodontist.
- You can take impressions of your mouth at home.
- Track your progress by checking your doctor-directed treatment plan online.
- Byte Aligners are removable, which means there are no food restrictions.
- Made of thin, BPA-free, medical-grade plastic that is almost invisible to the naked eye.
- More comfortable since there are no metal components.
- Faster treatment time. It takes four to six months to correct bite problems with Byte Aligners.
- You will be able to visualize what your smile would look like after your treatment with Byte Aligners with a 3D simulation.
- With the Byte for Life Guarantee, if your smile moves out of alignment at any time after your treatment with Byte aligners, you’ll get additional impression kits, new treatment plans, and aligners to help correct any misalignment issues at no additional cost.
Cons of Byte Aligners
- Not suitable for patients with severe crowding and bite problems.
- Byte cannot fully correct an overbite, underbite, or open bite, which would require attachments, rubber bands, expanders, and in some cases, jaw surgery.
- Taking mouth impressions at home might be tricky for some people.
- Not suitable for children ages 11 and below.
- Slow customer service and response times
How do Byte Aligners work?
Byte Aligners use a series of clear aligners to move your teeth to their ideal positions gradually. The process starts by taking impressions of your upper and lower jaw with the at-home impression kit that will be sent to you. Dentists and orthodontists will then analyze your impressions if you are a good candidate for Byte treatment and design a personalized treatment plan. If you’re not, they’ll refund the full price of the impression kit. To ensure Byte aligner is a good option for you, the company will provide you with a 3D preview of how your teeth will look post-treatment. If you like what you see, your set of clear aligners will be mailed to you, and you can track progress via the MyByte App.
Once treatment is completed, a set of retainers will be provided to help keep the smile you worked hard for in place.
What is HyperByte?
In addition to Byte Aligners, you can purchase other products that will be helpful while working on your dream smile. For instance, the HyperByte device will help give you a fast and comfortable treatment. It is a high-frequency device that helps seat your Byte Aligners as tight as possible to your teeth, making your aligners work efficiently.
BrightByte is another product you can use while undergoing Byte Aligners treatment. It is a whitening and cleaning foam in one where you can use your aligners as a whitening tray to whiten teeth without visiting the dental office. Patients love it because they can achieve a bright smile while straightening their teeth.
Byte All-Day Aligners
Byte aligners come in two types: all-day aligners and at-night aligners. All-day aligners should be worn for at least 22 hours daily to maximize their effect and deliver fast results. They should be removed before eating and drinking to prevent breakage or deformation.
This plan is perfect for those who want faster results and don’t mind wearing clear aligners during the day. Some professionals prefer these as Byte aligners are discreet and don’t really affect their speech.
Byte At-Night Aligners
In contrast, Byte at-night aligners are perfect for patients who want to conveniently straighten their teeth while sleeping and should be worn for at least 10 hours every night. At-night aligners are more expensive than all-day aligners but are ideal for people with a busy lifestyle who don’t want the hassle of removing aligners when eating during the day.
Remember that your aligners will only work on your teeth when wearing them. So, if you have extra time during the day to wear your aligners, that will be great too! You should wear each set of aligners for at least seven nights before moving on to the next set. If you’ve been wearing a set for seven days, but it feels like the next set doesn’t fit, it could mean that you have not been wearing your at-night aligners for the required time each night, and you should contact the clinical team.
It is worth noting that some orthodontists don’t recommend nighttime aligners as patients may never experience the light continuous force necessary for effective healthy tooth movement. According to Dr. Lynn Hurst, Candid aligners founder, and an orthodontist, without a longer and more consistent wear schedule, your teeth can be left in a limbo state of inflammation.
How long does treatment take?
Treatment time varies for every case, but the average treatment plan is 3-4 months and relies on how many hours you use your clear aligners daily. Some patients reported longer treatment time for at-night aligners and those who have worn their aligners for shorter than recommended hours of daily wear.
How much does Byte cost?
The Byte All-Day Aligner System is $1,895, while the At-Night Aligner System is $2,295. It also includes a HyperByte teeth movement accelerator and BrightByte teeth whitener.
You also need to pay $95 for the Byte Impression Kit ($24.95 with our link), which is refundable if the Byte team determines you’re not a candidate for clear aligners.
Instead of the one-time payment, you may opt to pay monthly with their monthly plans. For all-day aligners, a down payment of $249 is required, with a monthly fee of $82 for 32 months. And for at-night aligners, the downpayment is $299 with a monthly fee of $99 for 32 months.
Does Byte really work?
Absolutely! Thousands of people left positive reviews on Byte’s website and other review sites after completing their Byte treatments. Some customers have left reviews during week nine and up, stating they can see progress on how straight their teeth look and are excited to complete the treatment.
Many of the top reviewers praised Byte for speedy delivery, the soothing effect of HyperByte, and outstanding results in as short as three months!
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Byte offer discounts?
They offer regular discounts on their website, such as the impression kit discount from $95 to $24.95 using this link. Check Byte’s site during significant holidays, Black Friday, New Year’s, and more to get seasonal discounts of $100-200 off.
They also offer a $150 discount to veterans, military, and students.
Are Byte Aligners safe?
While it may look daunting, at-home aligners are relatively safe. Licensed dentists and orthodontists are working with Byte to ensure your treatment plan is tailored to fit you. Unlike metal braces, there isn’t any risk of poking or dislodging metal components in your mouth with a clear aligners system.
Does Byte accept insurance?
Byte accepts health savings accounts (HSA) or flexible spending accounts (FSA) payments. They also partnered with insurance companies like Empire, Anthem, Aetna, and Guardian to cover Byte fees.
Byte financial specialists can also help determine if your insurance covers at-home aligners. And if you’re eligible, they will do all the paperwork for you!
Does Byte fix overbite?
Byte aligners can only help lessen the appearance of an overbite but not fully correct it. Cases like overbite, underbite, and crossbite require a more complex treatment with other orthodontic treatments.
Byte Comparison to Others
The main competitor of Byte is SmileDirectClub which offers at-home clear aligner treatment without needing to visit a dentist or orthodontist physically. One of the advantages of SmileDirectClub over Byte is that you can have your teeth scanned at one of their SmileShop locations for free. This option is really a deal breaker for those who find it difficult to make mouth impressions at home.
On the other hand, Byte is also competing with Candid and Invisalign, two of the most popular clear aligner treatments. Although, unlike Byte, Candid and Invisalign require you to visit a dentist or an orthodontist who will take your scans, monitor your progress, and work with you throughout your treatment. Not to mention Candid and Invisalign are way more expensive than Byte.
A study published in the Journal of Dental Research and Reports by Ackerman showed that teleorthodontic treatment modality costs 40% less for the patient than the cost of similar in-office orthodontic treatment, which is a big buying factor for many patients.
Verdict
All in all, Byte is a good option if you want to straighten your teeth conveniently at home and don’t want to go to a dental office. However, it is only recommended to people with mild to moderate crowding or those with minor aesthetic concerns about their smiles. It would never correct any severe bite problems that require complex orthodontic treatments.
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References:
Dusseja SH, Rao D, Panwar S, Ameen S. Patients’ views regarding dental concerns and tele dentistry during COVID-19 pandemic Int J Sci Healthc Res. (2020) 5:423–9. Available online at: https://ijshr.com/IJSHR_Vol.5_Issue.4_Oct2020/IJSHR_Abstract.0056.html
Ackerman M. Teleorthodontic treatment with clear aligners: An analysis of outcome in treatment supervised by general practitioners versus orthodontic specialists Journal of Dental Research and Reports. (2019). doi: 10.15761/JDRR.1000114. Available online at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341619741_Teleorthodontic_treatment_with_clear_aligners_An_analysis_of_outcome_in_treatment_supervised_by_general_practitioners_versus_orthodontic_specialists
