Orthodontic treatment is an investment in yourself. It boosts your confidence, improves your oral health, and it can give you a new lease on life. But the results of orthodontic treatment don’t last forever on their own; you have to do your part by wearing retainers.
The Byte Protection Plan helps make sure your teeth stay exactly where you want them. But is it worth it to invest hundreds of dollars more into your treatment as soon as it’s finished? We have all the details you need to decide if Byte’s Protection Plan is worth it for you.
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Breaking Down the Byte Protection Plan
Byte’s Protection Plan is all about protecting your smile during and after treatment. Because our teeth want to shift back to their original locations, you need retainers to keep them in place. They come in different styles, but the most popular for aligner patients are plastic retainers — they’re just like your aligners but stronger and not meant to move the teeth.
While they don’t wear out as quickly as aligners, plastic retainers do break down over time. Most people need to replace theirs every six months, and the costs can really add up! That’s one reason so many adults stop wearing their retainers and lose their newly improved smiles.
The Byte Protection Plan aims to take this burden off their customer’s shoulders. Rather than paying $129 per retainer set — or $258 per year — you pay $749. For this price, you get five years of retainers, or ten sets. That comes down to a cost of around $75 per set.
Those are big savings! But the Protection Plan actually goes beyond simply sending retainers every six months — it also covers lost or stolen aligners up to $2,000 in value.
To get the Byte Protection Plan, you simply add it to your treatment when checking out. Just keep in mind that it is non-refundable.
Byte Protection Plan vs. the Byte-for-Life Guarantee: Are They the Same Thing?
The Byte Protection Plan and the Byte-for-Life guarantee cover different aspects of Byte treatment. The Byte Protection Plan is about keeping your new smile in place, while Byte for Life fixes your teeth if they ever shift after treatment.
If your teeth for any reason other than accident, injury, or illness — and you’ve worn your retainers as instructed — Byte for Life will cover it. If you can prove that you purchased retainers regularly from Byte or another party, they’ll ship you an impression kit, then make new aligners to get your teeth back into position.
The Typical Retainer Wear Schedule
Your retention phase plan is unique to you, just like your active treatment plan. However, there are standard wear schedules for retainers that most doctors and at-home aligner companies follow. Follow your provider’s instructions over anything you find online. However, below is a typical retainer wear schedule prescribed by dentists and orthodontists.
The First 3–6 Months
During these initial months, you’ll be wearing your retainers the same way you did your aligners — assuming you were on the all-day system! You keep them in for 22 hours a day, only removing them to eat, drink, brush, and floss.
The Next Two Years
After your initial 3–6 months of near-constant wear, you’ll transition to wearing your retainers overnight. This differs slightly from nighttime aligners, which you need to wear for at least ten hours per night. With retainers, you just need to put them in right before you go to sleep.
Going Forward
It’s not something orthodontic patients love to hear, but it’s the truth: retainers are for life. Yep, your whole life — unless you want your teeth to shift. At this point, you can stop wearing your retainers nightly and instead wear them every other night to every third night. But if your retainers start feeling tight or like they don’t fit anymore, you might need to wear them longer or more frequently.
When to Replace Retainers
The industry standard is to replace your retainers every six months; that’s why the Byte Protection Plan includes two sets per year. However, this isn’t an exact science. People grind or clench their teeth at night and will find that their retainers wear out fast, while for people who don’t — and who take great care of their retainers — they might last longer.
So, how can you know when it is time to replace your retainers? Stick to the six-month schedule, but replace them sooner if you notice any of the following:
- Your retainer feels loose or doesn’t fit right.
- You can see cracks forming in your retainer.
- There are chips missing from the retainer.
- Scrubbing doesn’t clean your retainer.
- The retainer’s shape looks warped.
- Your retainer was lost or stolen.
Just keep in mind that the Byte Protection plan only includes two sets of retainers per year. If you need more than that, you’ll need to pay for them separately.
Is The Byte Protection Plan Worth It?
Retainers are essential to clear aligner therapy, and that means you’ll need to purchase them no matter what. Byte retainers retail for $129 per set — that’s $1,290 over the course of five years. With the Byte Protection Plan, you pay $749. That means you’ll save at least $541 — and even more if you end up losing or damaging your aligners.
So, is it worth it? In our estimate, yes. However, everyone’s budget and priorities are different. Weigh all the benefits and alternatives before making your purchase.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the different types of retainers?
There are three main types: clear removable retainers (like Byte’s), removable Hawley retainers that combine metal with plastic, and fixed retainers that are bonded to the teeth.
Do I really need to wear retainers for the rest of my life?
Yes, assuming you don’t want your teeth to shift or go through orthodontic treatment again. As time goes on, you’ll wear them less often, so the wear schedule gets less demanding as time goes on.
How do I clean my retainers?
Every day, use a soft-bristled brush and mouthwash to scrub your retainers gently. Rinse with cold or room-temperature water. Once a week, deep clean the retainers by letting them soak in a cleaning solution for about 20 minutes, then rinse with cold or room-temperature water. If you notice white spots building up, soak the retainers in one part water and one part vinegar, then rinse. Make sure the solution and water are cold or room temperature.
Are retainers and aligners made the same way?
Sort of. They are based on molds of your teeth, just like your aligners. And with Byte, your retainers are the same shape as your final aligners. However, they are thicker and stronger since you wear them for six months instead of 1–2 weeks like you would with aligners.
Do retainers hurt?
When they are made properly, retainers should not hurt. Sometimes, the upper edge of plastic retainers can be rough or dig into the gum line, but you can smooth it out with a nail file. If your retainers hurt, this might mean they’re made incorrectly, or that you went too long without wearing them and your teeth shifted.
Do I still need retainers if my teeth feel like they’re firmly in place?
Yes. During clear aligner treatment, your teeth can feel loose and wiggly. After you’ve been in the retention phase for a while, they firm up. This might lead you to think that they won’t move out of place anymore, but the ligaments will still want to pull the teeth back. It just takes them longer to get things moving, which is why you can wear your retainers less often if you’ve been finished with treatment for a while.
Can my retainers last longer than six months?
Sometimes. Most people who wear them as often as directed will find that they don’t, but you could be the exception.
What if I want a different type of retainer from those Byte offers?
You aren’t required to get the Byte Protection Plan. If you do, you have no choice but to pay for the plastic retainers. However, you can also work with a dentist or another remote care provider to get a Hawley retainer, permanent retainer, or a different brand of plastic retainers.
How should I store my retainers?
The saying is, “If they’re not in your face, they’re in your case.” Keep your retainers in their protective case any time you aren’t wearing them, and purchase extra cases to keep in your bag, at the office, and other places you might need to take your retainers out. Always keep them out of the sun and away from heat sources.
Can I eat with my retainers in?
No. The force we use to bite food will quickly distort or crack plastic retainers. Plus, pigmented foods and drinks can stain them. Always remove your retainers and safely store them before eating.
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