AlignerCo and Byte have a lot in common. Both clear aligner services offer at-home teeth straightening, and both are newer to the scene than industry giant SmileDirectClub. But when you dig a bit deeper, you’ll find that there are some major differences between them.
We’re here to help you decipher these differences and hone in on the features that are most important to you. In this comparison review, we’ll take you on an in-depth tour of AlignerCo and Byte, and provide all the information you need to choose the best home teeth aligner for you.
Table of Contents
Overview & Recommendation: Byte Wins
Two Great Companies, but Byte Gets Our Vote.
Both AlignerCo & Byte offer huge savings and convenience, but in our opinion, Byte wins the race. Why? Two reasons:
- Industry-Fastest Treatment Time: This is where Byte truly shines, separating themselves from not just AlignerCo, but the entire clear aligner industry. Their proprietary HyperByte device, which uses gentle vibrations to shift teeth more easily, gives Byte an average treatment time of 3 months (compared to AlignerCo’s 6-11 month average). Dentists often charge upwards of $1,000 for similar devices, but Byte includes it for free in your aligner bundle.
- Exceptional Customer Support: Byte assigns each customer a personal advisor, who checks in to answer questions and concerns throughout the treatment process. Plus, once you’re done with treatment, your smile is insured by their Byte-for-Life Guarantee. That means if your teeth ever shift after treatment, even years down the line, they’ll realign your smile free of charge.
Is Byte Right for You?
Out of all the clear aligners we’ve reviewed, Byte is the #1 option we feel most comfortable recommending not only to our readers, but also to our family and friends. They scored 4.7/5 overall based on our 5 review criteria (effectiveness, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer support) — a higher rating than any other provider.
Effectiveness Comparison
One of the biggest questions facing you as you investigate home aligner treatments is: how well do they work? All home aligner companies can confidently correct mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing, but certain ones go a step further by ensuring quality products and processes.
AlignerCo’s low price doesn’t mean low quality – they still facilitate safe, effective treatment and produce reliable products. Byte, however, does all that and more, providing excellent customer service and faster treatment times than anyone else.
Byte Effectiveness
AlignerCo Effectiveness
- Uses both orthodontists and dentists to create treatment plans, but an orthodontist is involved in every case.
- Their aligners are manufactured by the widely trusted Dentsply Sirona.
- Cuts aligners straight across the top for extra power.
- HyperByte technology decreases the average treatment time to 3-4 months.
- Uses both orthodontists and dentists to create treatment plans.
- Partners with Raintree Essix, another reputable manufacturer, to produce their aligners.
- Trims aligners to match your gum line, potentially sacrificing effectiveness.
- Average treatment time is 6-11 months.
Provider Network
Your aligner treatment plan doesn’t appear out of thin air – rather, it’s carefully crafted by a state-licensed professional. Byte and AlignerCo have dental teams that consist of orthodontists and general dentists. To create Byte treatments, dentists and orthodontists work in tandem, so you can be confident that an orthodontist will have some role in your aligner plan. It’s unclear how AlignerCo’s dental team functions, so you could have a dentist or orthodontist designing your treatment.
Why does it matter? Orthodontists receive several years of specialized training, so they can spot and address even the most subtle alignment issues. Having an orthodontist monitoring your care increases the likelihood of an outstanding adjustment, and reduces the risk of something going wrong during your treatment. Don’t get us wrong: general dentists are qualified, knowledgeable individuals. But they don’t necessarily have an orthodontist’s specialized experience and skill set. It would be nice if these companies maintained orthodontist-only networks, but you’ll still receive effective treatment.
To help you stay on track, AlignerCo provides consistent treatment oversight. Every two weeks, you’ll be required to submit photos of your teeth so that your dentist/orthodontist can provide feedback.
Aligner Manufacturing
The construction, design, and materials in your aligners can have a huge impact on your treatment’s effectiveness.
AlignerCo produces all of their aligners using plastics from Raintree Essix, a high-quality, well-respected dental supplies company. So, you can be sure that their products are made from sturdy and reliable materials.
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. This means Byte’s products are highly trustworthy and well-designed.
Aligner Cut
Believe it or not, the way that your aligners are cut can have an influence on their effectiveness as well.
AlignerCo trims their aligners to match your gum line, while Byte cuts theirs straight across so that they overlap the gums. There are advantages to scalloped aligners – they’re slightly less noticeable and they ensure that your aligners are hand-crafted, not 3D printed.
Because Byte’s straight-cut aligners overlap your gums, they’re slightly more visible, but they can also be more effective. How? The gums help to anchor your aligners in place, giving them a point of leverage they can use to exert up to 4x more force to move your teeth.
When AlignerCo says that their scalloped aligners are less visible, they aren’t lying, but know that it may also make them a little less effective.
Affordability Comparison
All home aligner companies are affordable when compared to traditional in-office treatments like Invisalign. But among these affordable options, AlignerCo is king. Their prices are significantly lower than the rest of the field.
Considering the quality of their treatment, Byte offers good value, but AlignerCo is a consistent favorite for anyone on a tight budget who’s looking for a cost-effective option. However, affordability isn’t one-dimensional. Make sure to also look beyond price tags to consider financing options and other perks as well.
Byte Affordability
AlignerCo Affordability
- $1,895 sticker price (or $2,295 for byte-At-Night).
- Includes the first set of aftercare retainers in the initial cost.
- HyperByte device also included in the initial cost.
- Impression kit is $95.
- Financing requires a down payment, but everyone is approved.
- Byte Protection Plan provides lower-cost aftercare retainers than many competitors.
- $1,145 sticker price ($1,345 for NightOnly).
- Initial payment includes the first set of aftercare retainers.
- Impression kit is also included in the sticker price.
- Multiple financing options – one requires a soft credit check, the other requires a downpayment.
- WorryFree protection plan provides the lowest cost for aftercare retainers in the industry.
Sticker Price
You simply won’t find a more affordable option than AlignerCo. Their $1,145 sticker price is several hundred dollars lower than the competition. This upfront cost includes your aligners, impression kit, and the first set of aftercare retainers, everything you need for treatment. If you choose NightOnly treatment, you’ll pay $1,345 instead.
Byte charges $1,895, which is right around the industry average. And even though Byte’s initial price includes the cost of your first set of aftercare retainers, it doesn’t cover your impression kit, which is an extra $95. On the flip side, this price also includes HyperByte, the device responsible for Byte’s blazing-fast treatment times. As the company’s premium service, Byte At-Night is a little more expensive: $2,295 in total.
Payment Plan Options
Even after discounts, home aligners aren’t exactly cheap. You might not be ready to pay $1,200 – $2,300 right away, and that’s okay. Each company offers financing plans that can break the cost into more manageable monthly payments.
Byte’s 32-month plan ($82/month) requires a $249 down payment, and Byte At-Night requires a $299 down payment followed by 32 monthly payments of $99. Either way, everyone qualifies.
AlignerCo has two different financing options:
- SmileFlex requires a soft credit check and if you qualify, it’s 12 monthly payments of $110. With NightOnly financing, those payments increase to $125.
- SmileFlex Easy does not require a credit check but does require a $275 downpayment followed by 11 monthly payments of $95 (or $345 then $105 payments for NightOnly).
Byte’s plan has lower monthly payments, but for just a little more each month, you can pay off AlignerCo’s entire cost in less than a year. Both companies’ financing plans have interest and cost more in the long run, so it’s cheaper to pay up front if you can swing it.
We should also note that BytePay automatically includes a 5-year “Smile Protection Plan,” which provides biannual retainer replacement and two free replacements for lost or stolen retainers.
Free Extras
Byte includes free whitening to accompany your aligners, which is a nice touch that allows you to brighten your smile while you straighten your teeth. AlignerCo doesn’t throw in free whitening, but that’s one of the things that helps them keep their sticker price low.
Byte also includes their HyperByte device with your treatment cost. This is a huge benefit to you, as HyperByte is what makes Byte’s 3-4-month treatment time possible, and it’s $699 bought separately.
Go with either of these companies and you’ll get a strong value, especially when compared to Invisalign or braces, which will typically set you back $5,000 or more. But if you want the absolute most affordable option, AlignerCo is your answer.
Aftercare Costs
Once you’ve achieved the smile you’ve always wanted, you’ll want to do whatever you can to maintain it. Industry-wide wisdom recommends wearing a nightly retainer indefinitely after your treatment so that your pearly whites stay in the position.
AlignerCo and Byte both include your first set of retainers (upper and lower) in their aligner packages. At-home clear aligner companies typically recommend replacing your retainer every six months—so it will be an ongoing expense. Byte and AlignerCo both offer convenience and savings on their aftercare treatment plans.
Byte Protection Plan | AlignerCo’s WorryFree Protection Plan |
|---|---|
| 5-year duration. | 6-year duration. |
| Different retainer prices depending on day or night aligner treatment. | Same retainer price for both day and night treatment. |
| All-Day aligner aftercare: $649 for 10 retainers ($64 each), At-Night aligner aftercare: $779 for ten retainers ($77 each). | $599 for 12 retainers ($49 each, by far the lowest in the industry). |
| New retainer mailed to you upon request. | New retainer is mailed to you every 6 months, so you won’t have to worry about requesting them. |
| Your retainers will already be in stock, so you won’t have to wait for a replacement. | Your retainers will already be in stock, so if you lose one, you won’t have to wait long for a replacement (but you will have to pay for it). |
| If you lose your retainer, Byte will replace it for free. |
Affordability is AlignerCo’s main focus, and their approach to aftercare is no exception. For $599, (though often on sale for $499) their WorryFree protection plan will provide you with twelve retainers—meaning each retainer is just $49, the lowest price in the industry. You will receive one in the mail every six months, for six years.
Worryfree ensures your retainers are already made, so if you lose your retainer, you won’t have to wait for a new one to be manufactured—potentially allowing your teeth to shift out of place.
Byte’s protection plan lasts five years instead of six, and offers different prices depending on whether you completed their All-Day or At-Night treatment. For daytime aligners, you’ll pay $649 for ten retainers ($64 each), and for nighttime aligners, you’ll pay $779 for ten retainers ($77 each).
The Byte Protection plan is more expensive than AlignerCo’s WorryFree, but they do offer some intriguing perks. For example, if your retainer is lost or stolen, Byte will replace it for free.
With the Byte Protection plan, your retainers won’t arrive automatically, but they’re still manufactured ahead of time and available upon request. You’ll simply call Byte’s customer service team every six months when you need a new retainer.
Convenience Comparison
If you’re sold on home aligners, it’s likely in part because of their incredibly convenient experience. From impression kit to final smile, you can complete the entire process without leaving your house. Either company is going to be convenient when compared to in-office options, but Byte is especially so. Not only do they maintain an industry-best 3-4-month treatment time, but they offer other perks that can make the process much more convenient.
Byte Convenience
AlignerCo Convenience
- No physical locations that offer teeth scans, so you’ll need to use an impression kit.
- Takes 4 weeks to design, produce, and ship your aligners.
- Allows you to use aligners and whitening products simultaneously.
- Byte At-Night treatment only requires aligner use for 10 hours per day.
- Average treatment time is 3-4 months.
- Only one physical location, so it’s likely you’ll need to complete the impression kit to start treatment.
- Takes 4-5 weeks to design, produce, and ship your aligners.
- Whitening products not included in aligner packages.
- Offers a NightOnly option, requiring only 10 hours of aligner wear per day.
- Average treatment time is 6-11 months.
Getting Started
Once you’ve decided to dive into home aligner treatment, you’ll probably want to get the ball rolling right away. But before Byte or AlignerCo can design your treatment plan, they need to get a look at your teeth.
This usually involves creating molds of your top and bottom arches with an impression kit. It sounds simple, but many customers report struggling with this first step. Taking impressions isn’t always easy if you’ve never done it before. Larger companies like SmileDirectClub and Candid have established physical locations where you can get free teeth scans, giving people an option to begin their treatment with a little more ease.
AlignerCo is following suit and has so far opened one location, in Long Island, New York. Byte has no physical locations, so if you’re choosing Byte or AlignerCo (and you don’t live near their one location), you’ll need to complete your own impressions at home.
Teeth Whitening
Straightening your teeth is a big change, but if you want to take it a step further, you might be considering whitening them too. Good news: Byte includes a free whitening kit with your aligners. And the best part is that the whitening solution is compatible with your aligners, so you can use them both simultaneously.
AlignerCo doesn’t include any whitening products in your aligner package—this is one of the ways that they can keep their prices so low. But they do offer a teeth whitening kit you can buy separately for $50.
Treatment Timelines
Byte delivers the industry’s fastest results, hands down. No one else comes close to their average 3-4-month treatment time. By comparison, AlignerCo’s treatment takes 6-11 months, which is still faster than in-office options (like Invisalign), but much slower than Byte.
Turnaround Times
Because home aligner treatment is a completely remote process, there’s some back-and-forth involved with getting started. The company will send you an impression kit and you’ll return molds of your teeth. Then, if the impressions are acceptable, the company’s dental professionals will develop your treatment plan and send it back to you. At this point, you’ll decide whether or not you’d like to continue with treatment. If so, the company will produce and ship your aligners.
The companies want to ensure your treatment quality and safety, so producing your aligners isn’t necessarily a quick process. You won’t find them waiting on your doorstep the day after finishing your impression kit. Go with Byte and you can expect this entire process to take around 4 weeks (depending on how quickly you return your impressions). AlignerCo has a pretty similar timeline – 2 weeks to create your treatment plan and 2-3 more to manufacture the actual aligners.
Nighttime-Only Option?
Think about your life with aligners, wearing them 22+ hours per day, only removing them to eat and drink, switching to a new set every week. Sound reasonable? Great! But if you don’t think you could work this commitment into your schedule, a nighttime-only option could be the right move for you. This is a relatively recent trend in the home aligner industry, and currently, four companies offer it: Byte, SmileDirectClub, AlignerCo, and NewSmile.
You’ll wear each set of aligners for 10 hours per day instead of the usual 22. Byte’s nighttime treatment (called Byte At-Night) designs their aligners specifically to exert more power over a shorter period of time each day. And they’ve done so in a way that only slightly extends your timeline – 4-6 months compared to the usual 3-4.
AlignerCo’s nighttime treatment is called NightOnly. These are actually the same aligners you’d receive for AlignerCo’s daytime treatment, but they have a different wear schedule, and they increase the overall timeline to 8-12 months.
Appearance Comparison
One of the main reasons many adults choose clear aligners is to avoid all the hardware associated with traditional braces. Already conscious about your treatment’s appearance, you’ll want to make sure your aligners suit your aesthetic preferences. Each company’s products look slightly different, and every person has their own unique aesthetic preferences, so this category is fairly subjective. You’ll want to keep your own likes and dislikes in mind as you consider your options.
Byte Appearance
AlignerCo Appearance
- Uses a smooth, translucent, shiny plastic.
- Uses straight-cut aligners that slightly overlap your gums.
- Reasonably stain resistant.
- Uses a smooth, translucent, shiny plastic.
- Scallops their aligners to match your gum line.
- Reasonably stain resistant.
Aligner Material
In the home aligner industry, there are two prevailing opinions on plastics. The first is that translucent, smooth plastic makes aligners less visible. And the second maintains that textured, frosted aligners better match natural teeth surfaces.
Both Byte and AlignerCo craft their aligners from clear, smooth plastic. AlignerCo goes as far as claiming to have the “world’s clearest aligners.” This can make your aligners look artificially shiny, although some people prefer the translucent look for the way it makes their teeth “gleam.”
Aligner Cut
Remember in the “Effectiveness” section when we said that straight-cut aligners like Byte’s are more powerful? Well, they’re also more noticeable. Scalloped aligners (like the ones from AlignerCo) match your gum line, so there’s no visible overlap.
Stain Resistance
Both companies make aligners that are resistant to staining, but we would not recommend drinking colored beverages while wearing them. Byte’s FAQ page states that their aligners are 88% more stain-resistant than their competitors, but it’s unclear how they determined this.
Nighttime-Only Wear
No one will notice your aligners if you’re not wearing them. By providing the option for nighttime-only treatment, both companies let you avoid wearing aligners in public altogether. So, if you don’t want to wear them at work, school, or other daytime social gatherings, you don’t have to.
Customer Service Comparison
As you weigh your options, keep in mind that you’ll be completing this entire process on your own. But that doesn’t mean you won’t have support. Every home aligner company offers customer service options, but they’re not all equally helpful.
Whether you have a quick question about pricing or an issue with your treatment, AlignerCo’s support team is available, responsive, and helpful, but they can’t quite match Byte’s level of highly individualized customer service.
Byte Customer Service
AlignerCo Customer Service
- Offers standard communication avenues and will respond on social media as well.
- Receives consistently positive customer reviews.
- The Byte for Life Guarantee ensures your smile forever.
- Provides each customer with a personal Byte advisor to answer questions.
- Provides standard support options, including video chat.
- Customers often report excellent service in online reviews.
- You can request a $200 refinement if you followed your plan and aren’t satisfied with your results.
Support Options
Byte is available during standard business hours on a variety of support platforms – phone, webchat, email, and will also respond on social media. Representatives are available from 8am to 6pm every weekday. AlignerCo has all the same communication channels and are available from 9 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday. Plus, they offer video call assistance to walk you through the impression kit process.
Responsiveness & Helpfulness
To get a better sense of each company’s customer service experience, we read and watched numerous online reviews. After compiling review data and testing out their support channels for ourselves, we determined that AlignerCo has commendable customer service, but Byte goes above and beyond to provide personalized care.
Reviewers indicate that Byte’s support team is responsive and friendly, resolving questions and issues efficiently. They assign each customer a Byte advisor who is available to answer questions throughout the entire treatment process, providing highly personalized support.
AlignerCo uses their small size to their advantage, as many customers are pleased with their responsiveness and personal care. They don’t assign each customer an advisor like Byte, but they give each customer close attention and helpful solutions.
Satisfaction Guarantee
Let’s say you get to the end of your treatment and your teeth don’t match your treatment preview. Then what? First, know that if you follow your wear schedule and treatment plan exactly, there’s an extremely good chance that you’ll get the results you want. But occasionally teeth simply don’t move as expected.
If you followed your treatment plan but aren’t completely satisfied, AlignerCo won’t give a refund, but they will let you request refinement aligners, which cost an extra $200.
Byte doesn’t provide refunds either. However, their team will work with you to provide extra aligners to finish the job if necessary. And their Byte-for-Life guarantee ensures your smile for life. If your teeth ever shift, they will provide free treatment to correct them, even years down the road. This only applies, however, to the teeth originally affected by your treatment, not any others.
Company Backgrounds
Byte Company Background
AlignerCo Company Background
- Founded in 2018
- Quickly gained popularity due to their innovative technology and excellent customer service.
- Currently one of the industry’s most promising new companies.
- Founded in 2019
- Established themselves as the most affordable home aligner option.
- Still small, but has a growing customer base.
AlignerCo and Byte are both relatively young companies who have made waves in the home aligner field through their innovative policies and procedures.
Byte is the brainchild of Dr. Jon Marashi D.D.S., whose star-studded patient list includes celebrities like Ben Affleck, Ryan Seacrest, and Kate Hudson. With Byte, he brought his ambitious orthodontic procedures to a wider base of patients. The HyperByte device, which cuts treatment times in half, and Smile Science technology, which matches your smile with your facial features, garnered immediate attention. Since its conception, Byte has grown rapidly in popularity and customers.
AlignerCo entered the scene in 2019 but counters their inexperience with incredibly affordable prices – the lowest in the industry. Most impressively, they haven’t sacrificed product quality for these low prices. Customers flocking to AlignerCo for their cost-effectiveness are finding highly-effective treatment and excellent support as well. It’s safe to say that this upstart has quickly become a worthy competitor for industry mainstays like Candid and SmileDirectClub.
Saving money is great, but we’re not convinced that AlignerCo’s lower costs surpass Byte’s dedication to efficiency, quality, and customer service. As AlignerCo continues to grow, they might start to catch up in these areas, but we haven’t seen it yet. As a top-notch all-around option, Byte is our top-ranked home aligner company, and we’re excited to see how they continue to revolutionize the industry in the future.
What Are Customers Saying?
When we review a company like Byte or AlignerCo, we start out by digging through online user reviews to understand the common issues customers face, and how the company handles them. Here’s how these two services stack up.
Byte
Generally, Byte users express positivity and satisfaction with their Byte experience. They often say they chose Byte because they appreciated the convenience of a three-month treatment plan, and liked that the HyperByte device would eliminate much of the pain associated with orthodontic treatment.
In the few cases where something goes wrong, it seems that Byte is quick and caring to resolve the issue, making sure the customer feels safe and valued. 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.
AlignerCo
As we mentioned earlier, AlignerCo is a fairly new company. They don’t yet have a ton of legitimate customer reviews and testimonials, so it’s tough to develop a fully-formed view. But by diligently searching the net, we were able to find a handful of reviews that feel honest and authentic, not sponsored by the company.
Based on these reviews, AlignerCo customers generally feel positive about their experience. Many customers initially considered AlignerCo for the price, but ended up loving their results and customer service experience. They often praise company representatives by name, showing AlignerCo’s personalized care.
But again, this is based on a small sample size of reviews. As they continue to grow, they’ll accumulate more and we’ll get a more complete picture of their customer experience.
Which Home Teeth Aligner Should You Use?
Still not sure which at-home aligner service to choose? Here are a couple of scenarios that might help you figure out which is the better option for you.
Choose Byte if You Are:
Looking to complete your treatment ASAP with quality products and excellent customer service, and don’t mind working with a less-experienced company.
Choose AlignerCo if You Are:
Searching for the lowest prices available along with reliable products and excellent customer service, and don’t mind (or prefer!) a smaller company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I choose Byte or AlignerCo?
Tough decision. They’re both great companies, but we recommend Byte. Their average 3-month treatment time, individualized customer service, and Byte for Life Guarantee make them our #1 home aligner service. AlignerCo, with their extra-low price, is a solid option too, especially for budget-conscious shoppers. Take a deep dive into each company by reading our full Byte review and AlignerCo review.
How do I get started with Byte or AlignerCo?
Getting started with Byte means ordering and returning an impression kit. Their dental team will use the molds of your teeth to determine your candidacy and create your aligners. For AlignerCo, you can visit their one in-person location in Long Island, New York to get a teeth scan, otherwise, you’ll need to complete an impression kit.
What are customers saying about Byte and AlignerCo?
Byte’s customer reviews are overwhelmingly positive. Customers express immense satisfaction with the company’s support team, speed, and results. AlignerCo has received positive reviews too – they just don’t have a whole lot of reviews in general. Still, customers are impressed with their low prices and responsive support.
However, both companies ask their patients to leave reviews towards the beginning of their treatment — meaning that often their reviews will be from people who have just started their treatment or haven’t even received their aligners yet, which may not fully tell the full story.
What is the fastest home aligner company?
Byte. Their average treatment takes just 3-4 months, while most other home aligner companies take around 6. Even Byte At-Night takes 4-6 months, right around the industry average.
Do AlignerCo and SmileDirectClub offer financing plans?
Yes, both have payment plans that make their prices more manageable. And the best part is that neither requires a credit check, so everyone qualifies. AlignerCo’s SmileFlex Easy plan requires a $275 down payment, then 11 monthly payments of $95. Byte’s BytePay plan is a $349 down payment and $83 per month for 29 months. For Byte At-Night, it’s a $449 down payment and $99 a month for 29 months.
What is the most effective home aligner company?
That honor goes to Candid. They’re the only remote aligner service with a network composed entirely of orthodontists, and they provide more robust clinical oversight than any other company, which puts them head and shoulders above the rest. Check out other effective treatments in our Top 3 Most Effective Home Aligners guide.
What is the cheapest home aligner company?
AlignerCo. At just $1,145, their price beats every competitor, and sometimes they run promotions that drop their already low prices even lower. And if you can’t pay that up front, you can jump on a financing plan, regardless of your credit score. Check out our complete AlignerCo review for more info, or find other great-value options in our guide to the most affordable home aligners.
Should I choose nighttime or daytime treatment?
Byte and AlignerCo offer a nighttime-only treatment (Byte At-Night) that allows you to wear your aligners for 10 hours per night rather than 22 hours per day. Nighttime treatment is great for frequent snackers or people who forget to wear aligners consistently, but it’s a bit more expensive. Daytime treatment is a better option for someone who’s looking to complete their treatment as quickly as possible.
Can Byte or AlignerCo fix overbite, underbite, etc.?
Not usually. Home aligners are designed to treat mild and moderate cases of crowding and spacing. Most often, jaw misalignments require a more robust, in-office treatment like braces or Invisalign, one that has face-to-face orthodontist oversight and incorporates attachments like elastics.
How do Byte and AlignerCo compare to Invisalign?
Both treatments use a series of clear aligners to shift your teeth. The major difference is that your dentist or orthodontist will administer Invisalign in-office and can incorporate supplement attachments (elastics, buttons, etc.).
As a result, Invisalign can treat just about any condition that braces can. Home aligners don’t require office visits, so they can’t employ attachments and they have a smaller range of treatable cases. Take a look at our Byte vs. Invisalign and AlignerCo vs. Invisalign guides for a deeper analysis.
How long does home aligner treatment take?
In most cases, 6 months. Your timeline could be shorter or longer, though, depending on your condition’s severity and how consistently you wear your aligners. And if you choose Byte, your treatment will move a bit faster. They use “HyperByte” technology to achieve faster teeth shifts, completing most treatments in 3-4 months instead of 6.
What other companies should I consider?
Candid, SmileDirectClub, and NewSmile are all worth a look. Each one has its own advantages. Candid provides orthodontist Remote Monitoring service, SmileDirectClub has unrivaled brand power and experience, and NewSmile is another convenient and affordable option. Read through our guide to the top 5 home aligner companies for more on each one.
How much do home aligners cost?
They go for $1,200 – $2,000, depending on which company you choose. AlignerCo, for example, has cut out the bells and whistles to provide effective treatment at just $1,145. While most others go for around $1,900. Even the most expensive home aligners are still much cheaper than the $3,000 – $8,000 you’ll pay for Invisalign or braces.
Are home aligners safe?
Yes! While administering treatment from home might seem daunting, the process is very safe. Home aligner companies use state-licensed dentists and orthodontists 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.
Do home 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.
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