Let’s be honest: wearing clear aligners all day can be a hassle. You have to wear them everywhere you go, and make sure to remove them and brush your teeth every time you eat or drink. Fortunately, Byte has solved this problem. They’ve designed clear aligners specifically for nighttime-only wear.
That’s right, Byte At-Night claims to be able to straighten your teeth while you sleep. These innovative aligners only need to be worn 10 hrs/night instead of 22+ hrs/day.
But is Byte At-Night too good to be true? Let’s dive in to find out. In this review, we’ll give you the full scoop on Byte’s “At-Night” aligners, and everything else you should know before getting started with Byte treatment.
Smile Tip: While some other clear aligner companies advertise nighttime-only treatment, Byte is the only one offering a product that’s specifically designed for nighttime wear.
How Does Byte At-Night Work?
For the most part, Byte At-Night treatment looks similar to traditional aligners. You take an impression of your teeth, Byte creates a treatment plan for you, and you wear your aligners for the prescribed amount of time.
That’s the process in a nutshell. Here’s a more thorough idea of what to expect from Byte’s nighttime aligners:
- Step 1: Create impressions of your teeth using Byte’s Impression Kit. Essentially, you create 3D molds of your teeth, which Byte’s treatment team uses to create your personalized treatment plan.
- Step 2: Approve your treatment plan once you receive it from Byte. This treatment plan will show you a prediction of what your teeth will look like after treatment.
- Step 3: Wear the aligners Byte sends you. To be both successful and safe, you’ll need to wear your aligners for 10 continuous hours per night.
- Step 4: Immediately after you put in your aligners each evening, you’ll use your HyperByte tool for ten minutes. This device gently vibrates your teeth to help them move into a new position. With daytime treatment, you’d use this device for just five minutes. But Byte At-Night requires ten.
Byte At-Night is a touch slower than their traditional treatment (but not by much). Byte took their daytime aligners and optimized them for nighttime wear. They’re thicker and grind resistant, which means they’re stronger, too. As a result, Byte At-Night can wrap up in as little as 5 months.
What Sets Byte At-Night Apart?
Byte isn’t as well-known as some larger companies like Invisalign or Smile Direct Club, but that doesn’t mean they’re a bad option. Byte has made a huge impact for such a young company. They started in August of 2018, and since then, they’ve introduced some innovative ideas and served thousands of customers.
Byte’s claim to fame is their short treatment lengths. Traditionally, at-home teeth aligners take an average of 6 months for treatment. That’s assuming you use all-day aligners. Nighttime treatments typically take longer simply because you wear your aligners for a shorter period of time each day. But that’s not true for Byte At-Night. Byte’s nighttime aligners use a thicker, medical-grade plastic specifically designed for nighttime wear. Pair that with their proprietary HyperByte system, and your Byte At-Night treatment could last as little as 5 months—even less than competitors all-day aligner options.
The HyperByte releases gentle, high frequency vibrations, which help loosen your tooth’s ligaments to ensure more comfort—and potentially shorter treatment lengths. Just put in your aligners, and bite down lightly on the HyperByte for 10 minutes a day, and you’ll vibrate your way to a new smile.
Byte is the only at-home clear aligner provider to offer this kind of therapy. But that doesn’t mean it’s sketchy. The HyperByte is a HFV (high frequency vibration) device, which is a technology that’s been safely used in orthodontics for over a decade. If you’re curious about HFV devices, you can learn more here.
Byte also prides itself on giving back to the community. They offer nice military, student, and first responder discounts. But Byte doesn’t stop there; their “ByteCares” program aims to provide a million-dollar smile to 10,000 people who wouldn’t be able to afford one themselves.
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Product Quality
All of Byte’s aligners are made from BPA-free plastic, but there are a few differences between their all-day aligners and their At-Night aligners. Let’s take a closer look.
Materials
Byte’s At-Night aligners are made from a thicker, more premium plastic than their all-day aligners. These durable nightitme only aligners can withstand any overnight teeth grinding you throw at them.
Byte At-Night costs a bit more than all-day treatment, but we can appreciate that the price difference is because the night aligners are made with premium materials. Byte’s competitors also charge more for their nighttime-only treatments, but the aligners are made with the same materials as the all-day options.
Appearance
There are two ways to cut the tops of clear aligners: straight across, or scalloped to match the gumline.
Byte’s aligners are cut straight across. This helps them exert more force than scalloped aligners, because the overlap with the gums acts as an anchor. Scalloped aligners are slightly more discreet, but they can’t exert as much force. It’s a bit of a tradeoff, but we tend to prefer aligners cut straight across.
Byte’s aligners are made of shiny plastic. Other aligner providers (like Invisalign and Candid) make their aligners from plastic with a slightly frosted appearance. Matte aligners tend to have a more natural look, since the surface of our teeth is porous—not shiny.
That being said, plenty of Byte customers like having a little extra gleam on their smiles! Appearance is subjective, so choose the aligners that work best for your unique look and circumstances.
Treatment Oversight
With Byte, you can complete your treatment from the comfort of your own home. While this is incredibly convenient, it does cut down on the human interaction you’ll have during treatment. But that doesn’t mean you’ll be left high and dry. In fact, each Byte customer is assigned their own personal Byte advisor. This advisor checks in periodically to ensure your journey to a straight smile is going well. No other home aligner company provides this level of personalized care.
Byte keeps their customers at the center of all they do, and it shines through in their customer support. For example, if you opt into text messaging, a Byte representative will reach out through each step of the process: impressions, ordering your treatment plan, wearing your aligners, and so on.
When we tested Byte’s customer support ourselves, we found them to be pretty prompt, especially by phone. Email is a bit slower, but you can expect a response within 24 hours. You can also reach out to them on social media, but for specific questions, a phone call is a fastest and most secure method.
To help the Byte team keep an eye on your progress, you’ll submit photo updates to your patient portal every 3-4 weeks of treatment. If you’re wondering how to capture quality photos for these updates—don’t worry, Byte has you covered. In your treatment bundle, you’ll receive a cheek retractor. This aptly named tool moves your pesky cheeks out of the way so that you can take clear images of your teeth.
It’s never easy to remember everything on your to-do list, so Byte will remind you via a green banner on your treatment portal whenever it’s time to send in your treatment photos.
Byte has the shortest treatment times in the industry. Your treatment could wrap up in as little as 5 months! With just ten minutes of HyperByte use a day, and simple photo updates every few weeks, this treatment can easily fit into a busy schedule.
In stark contrast, traditional in-office options like Invisalign and braces can take 18-24 months to complete. On top of that, you’d have to attend in-person appointments every 4-8 weeks of treatment. Accomodating a dozen or so appointments are no easy task for a busy adult.
Bang For Your Buck
At-home clear aligners offer considerable savings compared to in-office options, but exactly how much savings are we talking about? Let’s take a look at the nitty gritty details of the cost of Byte At-Night treatment.
Startup Costs
With Byte, your only option to get your treatment started is to purchase a $95 impression kit. If you buy one and it turns out that you’re not a candidate for treatment, Byte will refund you the cost of the kit.
Aligner Kit
The Byte At-Night aligner kit costs $2,295. This price covers all of the aligners your treatment requires. Your aligner package comes with some compelling freebies; like Byte’s proprietary HyperByte device ($699 sold separately), a bottle of Byte’s whitening treatment, and a complimentary set of aftercare containers.
Byte At-Night is priced higher than their all-day aligners, but we can appreciate this discrepancy since the nighttime-only aligners are made of thicker, more durable plastic.
Potential Add-Ons
Your first container of BrightByte whitening is included free with your treatment bundle, but if you’d like to stick with the habit once you’ve run out, then you can buy a replacement bottle for $30. Byte offers savings when you bulk buy their whitening—the per bottle cost is $20 when you purchase 6 bottles.
You can also choose to purchase an extraction tool for $10, which helps remove your aligners gently and easily.
Byte offers comprehensive protection for your new smile with their treatment add-on; the Byte Protection Plan. For $799, You’ll get free replacements of lost or broken aligners, and free retainers for 5 years after treatment.
$799 may give you some initial sticker shock, so let’s break down what that price covers. Normally, a set of retainers costs $129, and over five years, you’d need 9 sets (the first set is free, and they usually need to be replaced every 6 months). So buying outright, 5 years of retainers would cost you $1,161. Not to mention the cost and headache of replacing lost or broken aligners.
Financing
If the total sticker price of $2,295 is more than your wallet can spare, then don’t worry. Byte offers BytePay, a pay-as-you-go plan, which doesn’t even require a credit check, so everyone qualifies. You simply make a downpayment of $299 and then pay $99 a month for 32 months. That results in a higher total price of $3,467, so it’s significantly cheaper to pay the whole price up front if you’re able to.
Paying for treatment with Byte Pay automatically enrolls you in the Byte Byte Protection Plan we detailed above ($799 value), which is part of why the financing fee is a bit steep.
Insurance
Byte works hand-in-hand with many insurance companies, but not all insurance providers cover orthodontic treatment. If you’re curious about your coverage, Byte will run a free check for you; just send them the details on your insurance card and they’ll get to the bottom of it.
Post-Treatment Costs
To help keep your smile perfect, Byte includes your first set of retainers for free in your initial kit. If you ever lose or damage one, you can purchase a new set for $129. These retainers are durable, but they aren’t indestructible. You’ll need to replace your retainers every 6 months or so. If you opt for the Byte Protection Plan, you won’t need to pay for any retainers out of pocket for 5 years.
Customer Experience
The cost and quality of your clear aligner treatment are important, but so is how you’re treated throughout the process. Let’s see what you can expect when you choose Byte At-Night for your clear aligner treatment.
Reviews
If you’re like a lot of online shoppers, you like to read customer reviews before making a purchase. That’s just good sense. For Byte, however, there are hundreds of reviews to sift through. To make your life a little easier, we’ve summarized what most customers had to say.
Just a note before we dive into the details: most of these comments are from people who went with traditional, 22-hour wear. But since Byte At-Night is fundamentally similar to Byte’s all-day method, the reviews still apply:
Without further ado, here’s what customers loved about Byte:
- Easy to use the impression kit
- Noticeable results within a matter of weeks
- Excellent customer support thanks to personal Byte advisors
But there are occasional drawbacks, too:
- Treatment can take longer than expected
- Mixups can occur when billing dental insurance
On the whole, it seems that Byte is a pretty safe bet when it comes to customer satisfaction. There’s always the potential for something to go wrong, but in all the cases we’ve seen, Byte’s customer support team is always able to find a solution.
Bottom line: Byte aims to provide a great experience for their customers. If you have any issues, you can trust that Byte’s US-based customer support team won’t leave you hanging.
Comfort
Let’s be clear: moving your teeth from one location to another is never going to be a total walk in the park. This is true with all orthodontia—even traditional options like Invisalign and braces involve some aches and pains.
That being said, the soreness typically happens within the first few days of switching to a new aligner—which makes sense; since the new aligner should be a bit tighter than the last. Typically the aches are nothing that an over-the-counter pain reliever can’t solve.
This isn’t always the case, but sometimes nighttime only treatments cause a bit more discomfort than traditional methods since your teeth spend so many hours a day outside of the aligners. Luckily, your Byte treatment comes with the HyperByte.
With its gentle pulses, 10 minutes of the HyperByte a day can help make your aligners fit better, and relieve some of the soreness. These aren’t just empty words, either—Byte’s reviews are full of customers crediting the HyperByte for making their treatment as pain-free as possible.
Guarantees
Ordering anything online can feel like a leap of faith; that’s why we appreciate when providers have policies that protect your purchase. Byte offers plenty of peace of mind with their Byte For Life Guarantee. Here’s how it works: if your teeth ever shift out of place post-treatment (even years later), Byte will correct your smile for free. All you need to do is stay up on wearing and replacing your retainer, and Byte will take care of the rest.
Refinement Policy
Sometimes teeth can be a bit more stubborn than expected, and you may need a few more aligners than your initial treatment plan predicted. These extra aligners are called refinements, and some providers charge extra for them—but not Byte. If you’ve followed their treatment guidelines, then you’ll receive all of the aligners you need to get the results you want.
What if I break an aligner?
Accidents happen—if you break an aligner during your treatment, reach out to Byte right away. If you’re enrolled in Byte Protection Plan (by purchasing it outright or paying for treatment with Bytepay) then this replacement will be covered for free! If you aren’t in that program, your replacement aligner will cost just $59. While you’re waiting for your replacement aligner to arrive, wear your most recent set of aligners to keep your teeth from moving out of alignment.
Best Byte At-Night Alternatives
Byte At-Night is a very convenient method to straighten your teeth while you sleep. However, they’re not the only option to consider.
AlignerCo
If nighttime treatment is a priority for you, then you can also check out AlignerCo’s NightOnly option. If you’re looking for the convenience of nighttime treatment and affordability, they’re your best bet. They charge just $1,345 for nighttime treatment. On average, their treatment takes between 8-12 months. So while they’re slower than Byte At-Night, they’re a little easier on your wallet.
Smile Direct Club
Another nighttime alternative is Smile Direct. The average treatment time with Smile Direct’s nighttime clear aligners is 10 months, so they’re slower than Byte At-Night. However, their nighttime treatment is more affordable at $1,950 (they’re the only company to charge the same amount for both daytime and nighttime treatments). And as one of the most experienced home aligner companies out there, Smile Direct is a very well-known name in the industry. Odds are you’ve seen an ad for them on TV or social media.
Should You Use Byte At-Night?
Byte At-Night is great, but it’s not the right treatment method for everyone. Let’s talk about when you should use Byte At-Night and when you should steer clear.
✔ When to use Byte At-Night:
Let’s say you drink lots of coffee, all day long (hey, no judgments here). Taking out your aligners and brushing your teeth after every single cup would be a pain. Thankfully, Byte At-Night takes away that hassle. And with Byte, you can combine the convenience of nighttime treatment with the speed and efficiency of the company best equipped to deliver results quickly.
✖ When NOT to use Byte At-Night:
Not everyone is a candidate for Byte At-Night. Unfortunately, tougher cases will need to opt for Byte’s All-Day option or an in-office treatment like Invisalign. And if your budget is tight, there are cheaper methods—Byte’s daytime method included. $2,295 is a bit tough to pay all at once, and that’s totally understandable.
Final Verdict:
Byte At-Night is a good addition to a service that was already competitive. Technically speaking, nighttime treatment is not the fastest way to straighten your teeth. But thanks to HyperByte, even the “slower” Byte At-Night treatment matches (or even exceeds) other companies’ daytime treatment lengths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Byte ever offer discounts?
If you’re on Byte’s email list, you’ll receive their promotional emails from time to time, which often feature discounts on their aligners and/or impression kits. On top of that, they offer year-round discounts for students, first responders, and current/former military members, who can get up to $150 off their treatment.
What if I’m not happy with the outcome?
Byte is (largely) a non-refundable service. The only refund they offer is for their impression kit, which goes to individuals who buy the impression kit but aren’t good candidates for treatment.
However, Byte does promise that you’ll love your smile for life. That’s why they give you your first set of post-treatment retainers (also for nighttime) for free. But if your teeth still shift after stopping your treatment, Byte will give you new nighttime aligners, free of charge.
Do I need an X-ray before Byte treatment?
No X-ray needed! The impression kit is all you need to get started; it measures the spaces and orientation of your teeth, not your bone structure. That’s assuming you have a relatively normal bone structure, though. If you suspect that your jaw is slightly misshapen or that you have a bad overbite or underbite, then you may want to get an X-ray to be sure.
How does Byte compare to Candid and Smile Direct?
Byte and Smile Direct both one-up Candid by offering nighttime-only treatment options. Candid and Smile Direct both have physical locations, which Byte doesn’t. But when it comes to treatment lengths, Byte has all of their competitors beat; both with their daytime and nighttime only treatments. Thanks to the HyperByte device, some people can wrap up their At-Night treatment in just 5 months (4 months for all-day treatment).
Is Byte better than braces and Invisalign?
It depends on what you mean by “better.” Braces, Invisalign, and Byte will all get the job done and leave you with an impressive grin. The real questions are how fast does the treatment go, and how much are you willing to spend? Of these three options, Byte is the cheapest and quickest way to get treatment. Even better: Byte is the only one that gives you the flexibility to wear your aligners solely at night. Braces are affixed to your teeth all day and night, while Invisalign requires 22+ hours of wear per day.
Is Byte At-Night cheaper than braces or Invisalign?
Yes! Byte is cheaper than both traditional braces and Invisalign. Before insurance, Byte At-Night costs $2,295. Invisalign can cost several thousand dollars before insurance. The same goes for braces. Ultimately, Byte At-Night can cost thousands less.
Does Byte treatment last forever?
Occasionally, teeth will shift after you finish treatment. As you age (or during a pregnancy), teeth have a tendency to move. If that happens, Byte promises to help. Just let them know that your smile has changed, and they’ll provide you with new aligners free of charge. You’ll be able to wear these aligners as nighttime aligners, too.
Does Byte offer teeth whitening services?
Yes! Byte includes BrightByte with every new customer kit. If you ever run out, you can buy a new bottle for $30 each. Buy a 6-bottle supply to get a unit price of $20. Byte recommends that you use BrightByte only while you’re using your Byte At-Night aligners. The formula is safe to use with your nighttime aligners, and it doubles as an aligner cleanser, too.
I’m in a rush—is Byte At-Night the fastest at-home treatment option available?
Ironically, Byte At-Night’s biggest competitor for treatment speed is still Byte! Byte At-Night can wrap up in just 5 months for people. But if treatment length is your top priority, we’d recommend that you opt for Byte’s daytime treatment schedule, which in some cases can take only 4 months to complete.
Of the three companies offering nighttime treatment options, though, Byte offers the shortest treatment lengths.
Does Byte have a refund policy?
Byte does not offer refunds for their nighttime aligners or impression kits. The only exception to this: if you take impressions and turn out not to be a good candidate for treatment, they’ll refund the impression kit price.
What happens if I mess up my impressions?
We’ll let Byte speak for themselves here: “If you send your impressions back and we can’t create an accurate set of aligners, we’ll contact you and send another impression kit.” Simple, right?
Does Byte have upsells?
Byte doesn’t have any hard upsells during their order process. They do have a soft one by including a free bottle of their whitening treatment, but that’s it. And since there’s no commitment to buy the whitener, it’s not really a true upsell.
Does Byte have an age requirement?
Byte treats anyone ages 12 and up. However, they require written parental consent to treat anyone younger than 18.
A related note: Byte recommends that you think about your wisdom teeth before getting alignment treatment. If you suspect you’ll need them removed, it’s in your best interest to take care of that first. Then your treatment will be the most effective.
Will Byte At-Night make me talk funny?
With any home aligner system, you have a foreign object in your mouth. That’s unavoidable. So, your mouth might feel a bit funny, and you could have the slightest hint of a lisp. For most people, though, the aligners are minimally invasive and practically imperceptible to others.
But since you’re wearing these aligners at night, that shouldn’t be too much of an issue, right? If you’re a sleeptalker, that’s another story.
How many hours a day should I wear my Byte At-Night aligners?
Byte recommends that you wear your aligners for 10 hours each day. For the most part, you’ll wear them while you sleep. Unless you’re the rare person who actually gets ten hours of z’s each day, then you should put them in a few hours before bedtime to get the full required wear.
Can I drink coffee while using Byte At-Night?
We generally don’t recommend that you drink coffee while sleeping. The two don’t go together.
In all seriousness, though, you shouldn’t eat or drink anything except water when wearing your Byte At-Night aligners. If you do decide to grab a late-night snack or drink, then you should take out your aligners and brush your teeth before replacing them. This helps avoid stains and keeps your aligners fresh and clean, too.
What happens if I lose my aligners (or retainers)?
Byte doesn’t offer free replacements for lost aligners. However, you can purchase a replacement for $99. Byte also recommends that you wear your most recent aligner in the meantime while waiting on the replacement.
Is Byte At-Night covered by insurance?
Byte works hand-in-hand with many insurance companies, but not all insurance types cover orthodontic treatment. Curious? Byte will run a free coverage check for you; just send them the details on your insurance card. They also accept FSA and HSA cards.
How can I contact Byte’s customer support?
You can contact Byte through their social media channels, but for more traditional support, it’s best to contact them via phone at 866.708.1557 for voice calling or 310.340.1241 for text. If you’d rather email, you can reach them at [email protected].
Just a note, though: even though you wear your aligners at night, you won’t be able to get support at night.