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 convenient and affordable alternative to traditional orthodontic treatment.
Byte is just one of several companies who offer home-based clear aligner treatment, but we think they stand out for their use of innovative technology and attentive customer care. Based on dozens of reviews we independently gathered from real Byte customers, we think they’re capable of delivering great treatment results. But is Byte the right fit for your smile goals? Read on to find out!
Table of Contents
What is Byte?
Byte is an online service that ships custom clear aligners (also called “invisible braces” or “clear braces”) directly to your home. Their aligners look and feel similar to Invisalign — they’re made of a clear, BPA-free, dental-grade 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 established 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. Byte might be an innovative and fast-growing company, yet it’s backed by the reputation of an organization with over a 100 year history.
The HyperByte is a high-frequency vibration device that Byte says may help provide a more comfortable and efficient treatment.
Certain studies suggest that using high-frequency devices like this for five minutes per day can reduce discomfort and encourage faster dental shifts, and Byte boasts an average treatment plan length of just 4–5 months. Of course, every smile is different, and some Byte customers have reported that their treatments go well past five months.
Byte will protect your new smile for life.
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 once a year and wear them as instructed.
Before diving in, visit your dentist.
Byte’s team of dentists and orthodontists are qualified, but no one knows your teeth like your regular dentist. We recommend visiting them for an exam and X-rays before beginning any clear aligner treatment. They’ll let you know if you have any cavities, gingivitis, or under-the-surface issues to address beforehand.
And that’s not the only thing you should do. Read over our seven-step checklist on preparing for at-home teeth straightening.
Special Offer - Save on Byte Aligners
If you decide Byte is the right treatment option for you, be sure to take advantage of this special promotion. Byte is currently offering its impression kit for just $17.95 ($80 off its list price). In addition, as part of this offer Byte will include with your impression kit a free whitening pen to help you brighten your teeth on the go. Enter the code SMILEBRYTE at checkout to claim this promotion.
Our Review of Byte Clear Aligners
Company | Treatment Scope | Affordability | Convenience | Appearance | Experience |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Byte | 4 / 5 | 4.25 / 5 | 5 / 5 | 4.75 / 5 | 4 / 5 |
Average Score | 4.5 / 5 | 3.7 / 5 | 3.9 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
Average Overall Score: 4.18 / 5
Your perfect match for orthodontic treatment will depend largely on your personal priorities, your budget, and your dental condition. That said, we think Byte is an excellent treatment option for most people with mild-to-moderate cases of misalignment. They scored 4.33/5 overall based on our five review criteria (scope of treatment, affordability, convenience, appearance, and customer experience) — a higher rating than any other provider we reviewed.
Further down this page we cover each of these criteria in depth. However, before diving into the details, here is a quick summary of key pros and cons:
Byte Pros
- High-Frequency Vibration Technology: Byte includes their HyperByte device in the cost of every treatment plan. This high-frequency vibration device uses gentle micro-pulses intended to help provide a more comfortable aligner fit and encourage faster dental shifts.
- Lifetime Warranty: 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 once a year and wear them as directed.
- Nighttime-Only Option: Byte's At-Night aligners are made of thicker, grind-resistant plastic and only require ten hours of continuous wear per day.
- Easy-to-Use Mobile App: 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.
Byte Cons
- No Physical Locations: They don't currently have any teeth-scanning clinics, 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.
- Younger than Some Competitors: 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.
Our Review Methodology
Smile Prep’s reviews are prepared and presented from the perspective of a well-informed consumer. Our starting point for all of our reviews is a careful survey of a company’s marketing claims and available third party customer reviews. We rely on the accuracy of company claims and do not independently verify them. Our reviews use this information to help our readers get information about the available options in a centralized location.
Our review of Byte is additionally informed by the following sources of data:
- Over 200 reviews that we have directly collected from verified Byte customers
- Feedback gathered from participants in our Honest Smiles Program, who are asked to share their honest experience undergoing treatment with Byte in a series of videos
- First-hand insight gained by testing Byte’s impression kit and having a treatment plan prepared
- Input gathered directly from Byte, including interviews with Byte employees and information gathered anonymously by interacting with Byte’s online support representatives
Byte is one of 12 aligner brands for which our team has prepared an in-depth review. You can check out the others by navigating to our clear aligners buyer’s guide.
Scope of Treatment
At-home clear aligner treatments aren’t designed to handle severe misalignments, specifically ones that involve jaw issues like overbite or underbite. Without the hands-on care and special attachments you’d get from Invisalign, they’re best for cosmetic misalignments — primarily crowding and spacing — and Byte is no exception.
Byte says their aligners can correct many mild misalignments, but can’t match the versatility of in-office treatments.
According to Byte’s website, here’s what their clear aligner treatment can handle.
- Crowding: Mild and moderate cases.
- Spacing: Mild and moderate cases.
- Overbite/Underbite/Crossbite: Bite issues often stem from jaw misalignments, so they usually require extra attachments, which Byte can’t provide. However, Byte says their aligners can potentially improve the appearance of an overbite “through better alignment of incisors and canine teeth.” For purely dental bite issues — ones that don’t involve the jaw — they could be a solution.
- Midline Misalignment: Midline misalignment is when the line between your top front teeth is off-center. It’s a cosmetic issue, but one with a range of causes, from simple spacing to jaw irregularities. Byte says they “can improve the appearance through better alignment,” which likely means they can make your midline appear centered, but might not be able to correct some of the condition’s more serious root causes, like severe crossbite.
That’s pretty standard treatment scope for remote aligner services. If you have a more severe condition, you’ll probably need braces or an in-office clear aligner like Invisalign.
Customer reviews confirm that Byte is best for cases of crowding and spacing, and mild bite issues.
Of the customers who have sent us their experiences, most reported receiving treatment for crowding, spacing, or overbite. Some customers said they had crossbites, underbites, open bites, and overjets, but those numbers were much lower.
The reviewers with simpler cases of crowding, spacing, and overbite gave four- and five-star reviews at a higher rate than customers with issues like open bite and crossbite.
To know for sure if Byte will work for you, submit an impression kit.
You could speculate about Byte treatment all day, but the only surefire way to know if their treatment will work for you is to send them impressions of your teeth. Their dental team will analyze these molds and determine if their aligners can deliver the smile you want.
Just know that the “30-second assessment” on Byte’s website will direct you to purchase an impression kit no matter what answers you give (unless you say you still have baby teeth) — so complete that kit and visit your dentist before deciding.
Byte works with licensed dentists and orthodontists to prepare and oversee their treatment plans.
Byte’s remote dental team evaluates every case, and a state-licensed dentist or orthodontist will review and approve your treatment plan. To make sure Byte is a good option for you, the company provides a 3D preview of your “after” shot, aka how your teeth will look after 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.
If they determine you’re not a suitable candidate for treatment, they’ll issue a full refund.
Our Staff Had a Byte Treatment Preview Prepared; Here Are The Results
You won’t have as much oversight throughout Byte treatment as you would with traditional options like braces or Invisalign.
Many clear aligner brands keep patients on track by requesting photo check-ins every few weeks, while traditional in-office options like Invisalign and ClearCorrect require office visits around every 4–10 weeks. Byte doesn’t go quite as far. They recommend that you regularly upload photos of your teeth through their My Byte app, but they don’t require it unless you have certain conditions.
You’ve got a choice here. If you’re someone who thinks virtual check-ins are inconvenient, you can choose not to complete them (unless Byte’s team requests that you do). But if you’d prefer the reassurance of regular oversight, you can get eyes on your teeth every couple of weeks.
Byte Affordability
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 isn’t the cheapest at-home clear aligner service on the market, but they still present a pretty solid value.
Byte’s cost is higher than some other at-home aligner options, but they throw in a lot of extras and everyone qualifies for their payment plans.
Byte All-Day | Byte At-Night | |
---|---|---|
Sticker Price | $1,999 | $2,399 |
Financing Plan | $249 down. $70/month for 36 months. $2,750 total | $299 down. $84/month for 36 months. $3,301 total |
This price covers the cost of your treatment plan, clear aligners, teeth whitening, the HyperByte device, and your first set of aftercare retainers, but not your impression kit (which is $95). We think that’s a strong value, especially when you compare Byte’s price to in-office clear aligner options like Invisalign, which can cost as much as $8,000.
And if you don’t have thousands of dollars lying around, no problem. Their payment plans don’t require a credit check, so you can get easy monthly payments, even if you aren’t confident in your credit score.
The Byte Protection Plan costs more up front, but can save money in the long run.
Instead of paying $129 for each set of replacement retainers, with the Byte Protection Plan, you’ll automatically receive new retainers every six months for five years, whether you lose them, break them, or are just ready to replace your current set.
You can purchase this plan for an additional $749. It may cost more initially, but that cost breaks down to around $75 per retainer. So, over the course of five years, you’ll spend less than you would purchasing replacements individually. You only need to replace your aftercare retainers once a year to maintain your Byte For Life Guarantee, but industry-wide wisdom typically recommends replacing them every 6–12 months.
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 insurance providers are working out the kinks and starting to cover this form of treatment, but getting reimbursed for home aligners can still be a hassle.
Byte has worked hard to make their insurance 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.
Plus, their insurance partners currently include:
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.
Check out our guide to insurance with Byte for more info.
Byte Convenience
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.
By shipping the aligners to your home, we think remote aligner services like Byte make the process more convenient, so you spend less time in the patient chair and more time living life. At-home teeth straightening is usually more convenient than seeing a dentist month after month, but Byte goes above and beyond to make teeth straightening as user-friendly as possible.
To get started, you’ll need to take molds of your teeth using Byte’s impression kit.
To create your treatment plan, the company will need 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. After you purchase the kit for $95, Byte will send it to your home. We’ve got a full guide on how to use the Byte impression kit, but here’s an overview:
- Read the instructions carefully before beginning.
- Open one container of each type of putty and mix them together.
- Roll the mixture into a cylinder and put it in the plastic tray.
- Bite down on the prepared tray so the putty surrounds your teeth.
- Apply consistent pressure for 3.5 minutes.
- Remove the tray and repeat with your other arch.
You’ll finish with two top and two bottom molds. Put them back in their box and send them back to Byte. They’ve already taken care of the shipping costs.
We Documented Our Experience Taking Impressions with Byte
This can be a challenging process, but Byte provides two sets of putty and 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.
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. According to Byte, 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, which uses a material they claim is specifically selected for overnight wear, so it also costs slightly more. You’ll pay $2,399 for At-Night treatment compared to $1,999 for an All-Day plan.
If that piques your interest, we’ve got an entire Byte At-Night review. And if you can’t decide, here’s our Byte All-Day vs. At-Night side-by-side comparison.
Byte says their All-Day treatment plans are 4-5 months long on average.
Most at-home aligner treatment plans last around six months, and in-office options like Invisalign often take one year or more. Byte, on the other hand, advertises an average treatment plan length of just 4–5 months.
However, your overall treatment time depends heavily on your specific condition, so some aligner plans might take longer. Also remember that choosing the nighttime-only schedule will lengthen your treatment time. On average, Byte says their nighttime treatment plans are 5–6 months long.
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 hundreds more 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.
If you like your results, you can also purchase their BrightByte Pro or BrightByte Whitening Pens.
Byte Appearance
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, we think 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 from the slightly frosted aligners from Candid, SmileDirectClub, or Invisalign. We think 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 in our opinion, 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. Though we think they’re slightly more noticeable, they can grip the teeth better and are more retentive than scalloped aligners.
Byte doesn’t add any attachments to your aligners.
Invisalign and ClearCorrect can add elastics and affix small attachments to your teeth surfaces, and research shows that these attachments can help aligners make more complex dental shifts. However, while they’re incredibly useful, these attachments also make your aligners more noticeable.
Byte doesn’t use any supplementary attachments, so their aligners are 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.
Byte Customer Experience
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’s customer support isn’t as personalized as the care you’d receive with an in-office option. However, based on Byte customer reviews, the company typically provides a helpful and supportive customer experience.
Byte’s 100% US-based customer support is very helpful, although some reviewers have reported delayed communication.
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.
In addition, Byte assigns each patient an advisor who can answer questions throughout the journey. 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, we think Byte does a solid 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 can help 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 offer refunds 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.
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 retainers as instructed and purchase a new set once a year, or you may void this guarantee.
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. Some users also note that the HyperByte device really helps their aligners feel more comfortable.
Byte vs. Invisalign
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 as a direct-to consumer company, Byte is more convenient and affordable. 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 some jaw misalignments.
Cost
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).
Convenience
Since Byte is delivered by mail and does not require in-person visits, we think it fits a busy lifestyle more easily than Invisalign. On top of that, the advertised 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. However, this difference is in part because Invisalign often treats severe misalignments that require more time to correct.
Scope of Treatment
Byte can only correct mild-to-moderate misalignments, while Invisalign shines in correcting more complicated dental issues. 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.
Treatment Plan
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.
For a deeper dive into the similarities and differences, see our Invisalign vs. Byte comparison review.
Byte vs. Other Home Aligners
We think Byte is a great clear aligner company, and we’re confident they can provide a satisfying 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 vs Byte
Candid blends in-person care with at-home monitoring to deliver an innovative hybrid treatment approach. They have a network of 800+ 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 8.5 months. But if you’re looking for hands-on care paired with at-home convenience, it’s definitely worth a look.
Learn more in our full Candid vs. Byte review.
SmileDirectClub vs Byte
SmileDirectClub stands out as the largest and most popular at-home clear aligner brand. They have 100+ retail locations across the country, which makes getting started slightly easier depending on where you live. They’ve also served over two million customers, making them the most experienced home aligner company out there.
Check out our full Byte vs. SmileDirectClub review for a lot more info.
Conclusion
If you’re looking to achieve a convenient, comfortable, and long-lasting smile transformation, we think Byte deserves serious consideration. They incorporate innovative technology designed to provide a reliable, high-quality treatment, and their Byte for Life Guarantee ensures your results will last a lifetime. Just make sure you’re an ideal candidate for at-home aligners, ideally by conferring with your dentist.
Get Started in 3 Steps and Save
If you’ve decided Byte is the right choice for you, here’s how you can 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
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?
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.
What about Invisalign?
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?
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?
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?
Byte advertises an average treatment plan length of 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 they company says you’ll be looking at an average of 5–6 months instead.
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?
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 $995, 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.
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?
At-home clear aligner treatment plans are always designed and/or approved by a licensed dentist or orthodontist — as long as you’re buying from a legitimate clear aligner service such as Byte.
The main concern regarding the safety of fully-remote clear aligner treatment is the lack of face-to-face care. Since you won’t be seeing a dentist in-person during treatment, you won’t receive the same level of support that you’d get with traditional in-office aligners like Invisalign or ClearCorrect. That said, a recent NIH-funded survey found the majority of at-home aligner customers were satisfied with their results, and only 6.6% experienced side effects necessitating a visit to their local dentist.
Read our guide to safe home teeth straightening treatment for more information.
Joanne says
I have upper dentures which have caused my bottom teeth to shift. Can Byte align just my bottom teeth?
Smile Prep says
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.
Owen James says
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.
Smile Prep says
Hi Owen,
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.
Lydia says
I had braces 30 years ago. My teeth are shifting and I have at least half a dozen crowns, will this be a problem?
Smile Prep says
Hi Lydia,
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!).
Michael Wright says
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.
Smile Prep says
Hi Michael,
Thanks for sharing these concerns, which others may share. Let me try to address both of them.
Hyperbyte
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:
https://www.semortho.com/article/S1073-8746(15)00036-5/fulltext
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2212443818301644?via%3Dihub
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.
Technicians
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.
Adriana says
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
Smile Prep says
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!
Maura says
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!
Smile Prep says
Hi Maura,
Thanks for sharing your positive experience with byte!
Diane says
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.