Both Byte and Invisalign are brands of clear aligners (think of them as a type of invisible braces) that are used to straighten teeth by treating teeth misalignment and bite issues.
To straighten teeth, they use a series of clear plastic aligners (or trays) that are custom made to fit your mouth and shift your teeth slowly and incrementally into position according to your customized treatment plan.
Patients typically wear new sets of aligners every two weeks or so, before replacing them with the next set of aligners.
Aligners are an increasingly popular alternatives to wearing fixed braces – whether traditional metal braces, lingual braces or ceramic braces. One of the most attractive features is that they are almost completely invisible.
Another benefit is that they are removable, which means they can be taken out when you want to eat or clean and floss your teeth. Some aligner brands like Byte also offer a nighttime option which means you don’t have to even wear them during the day.
If you want straight teeth and the flexibility of removable teeth aligners, then you’ll be interested to know more about the pros and cons of Invisalign vs Byte.
When comparing aligner brands, it’s good to look at differences in terms of treatment costs, average treatment time, comfort, the size and quality of the dental network, remote treatment options, night vs all day wearing options, and the reviews that the brands have received.
Many people also look at the brands’ reputation, payment options, the treatment process, and the comfort of wearing the aligners.
There are various aligner brands on the market, and the two that we are comparing here are Byte and Invisalign.
Invisalign has over 20 years of experience in treating patients with clear aligners, while Byte is a newer brand that differentiates itself in various ways – one of which is by offering teledentistry services.
If you have a malocclusion or dental issue that you are wanting to address using braces or aligners, then you probably want to compare brands and their offerings. Our review aims to guide you through the differences between Byte and Invisalign to help you make an informed decision about which brand is right for you and your dental health.
What dental issues can Byte and Invisalign treat
It’s important to compare and differentiate Byte and Invisalign’s clear aligner treatment in terms of what dental issues they can be used to address. Depending on the exact nature of your dental issue, you will have different treatment options. Not all bite and alignment issues can be treated with aligners and some may even require surgery or braces.
The first step is to visit a Byte and an Invisalign doctor to see whether you are eligible for their treatment and to find out what the treatment duration and cost will be. That will give you enough information to make a more informed decision.
Byte aligners can be used to treat mild or moderate alignment and crowding issues and minor bite issues. For more severe cases, you may need to have braces first and then Byte or you may not be an eligible candidate for Byte. In such cases, you may need to look at alternatives like braces or Invisalign which can treat a wider array of dental issues than Byte.
Invisalign can treat mild, moderate and some severe dental alignment and bite cases. This includes cases of overbite, underbite, open bite, cross bite and severe crowding, and gaps between teeth. Invisalign can use orthodontic Smartforce attachments to induce more intricate tooth movements which makes their aligners more similar to braces in their capabilities.
Comparing the treatment plan process: Byte vs Invisalign
When comparing Byte and Invisalign treatment, you will want to look at the overall treatment plan process so that you know what to expect. It’s also helpful to give you an idea of costs and timeframes.
The first step with both Invisalign and Byte is to get assessed as to whether you’re an eligible candidate for treatment.
Next is the actual treatment whereby you wear a series of clear aligners that incrementally adjust your smile.
Thereafter you will need to wear retainers to maintain your teeth and keep them from shifting back out of alignment. However there are many differences in the treatment process which we detail below.
3D scans, Impression kit, and assessment
One of the major differences between Byte and Invisalign is the fact that with Byte you can have all your treatment done at home without having to visit a dentist’s office.
At the start of your smile journey with Byte, you can visit one of several Byte offices for a scan if you want to – or you can order your own home impression kit that comes with instructions letting you create your own molds of your teeth (or dental impressions). Your Byte dentist will use those to create a treatment plan and also to assess your eligibility for treatment.
By contrast, with Invisalign there is no virtual treatment option, so you will need to visit an Invisalign doctor to get assessed for treatment eligibility.
At the initial consultation, your Invisalign dentist can take a 3D scan (using their patented iTero Element scanner machines) of your mouth which is used to create an intricate treatment plan. You will also be able to get a quote regarding treatment cost and duration at this consultation, and the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.
Remote treatment and teledentistry options
Byte’s fully remote treatment offering means that you never have to visit a dentist in person to get treated. You can start your journey with a home impression kit and then use teledentistry for virtual check-ins.
By contrast, Invisalign only offers traditional in-office consultations with one of their dentists or orthodontists.
Wearing aligners and having regular treatment check ups
Whether you choose Invisalign or Byte, you will need to wear your aligners regularly and as directed to maintain your new smile. With Byte, you have the option of wearing your aligners either all day or just at night; whereas with Invisalign you need to wear them all day for 22 hours a day.
If you opt for the Byte all-night aligners, that does mean that your treatment time will be a bit longer. But it does give you the flexibility to not have to wear them during the day if you so choose.
Wearing your retainers
Once you complete your Byte or Invisalign treatment, you will need to wear a retainer every night to maintain your new smile. If you don’t, your teeth could become misaligned again.
Both Byte and Invisalign sell their own custom-made retainers, which need to be replaced regularly. It’s important to factor in the cost of retainers every year into your overall aligner treatment budget and planning.
How much is Byte vs Invisalign aligner treatment?
Cost is always an important factor when deciding between two products or services. When it comes to aligner treatment, it can be tricky to compare costs as it depends on the exact nature of the dental issues you have – and that will be different for every person.
Byte offers set rates for their day or night aligner treatment, whereas Invisalign’s treatment cost depends on the severity of your case but averages between $3,500 to $5,000. Byte’s All-Day aligners are $1895 and they cost $2,295 for the All-Night aligners. You’ll also need to pay $95 for their impression kit before you begin treatment.
If you have a mild alignment issue and you’re eligible for the shorter Invisalign Express treatment, then the costs will be less and more similar to Byte.
On the other extreme, if you have a severe alignment or bite issue (which possibly would not even be treatable with Byte’s aligners), then you may end up paying over $5000 with Invisalign.
You will also need to factor in the costs of Byte and Invisalign retainers to maintain your news smile. Byte includes your first set of retainers free. Retainers usually need to be replaced every 6 months.
Byte also includes their HyperByte device (which helps to speed up treatment) – and they also offer some discounts for military and students.
Comfort, materials and aligner technology
It may be important to you to know more about what materials are used to make aligners, how comfortable they are to wear, and what innovative technology has been developed to make them work precisely and effectively.
Invisalign aligners are made from a patented material called SmartTrack that is the result of many years of research and development to find a material suited to precision tooth movements and enhanced treatment times. If required, Invisalign doctors can use SmartForce features like Bite Ramps or Power Ridges to help achieve the desired tooth movements.
Invisalign’s aligners are made from flexible, medical grade thermoplastic and have been approved by the FDA. They have also been designed to maximise comfort.
Byte aligners are also made from transparent, BPA-free, plastic. However, Byte aligners don’t come with any attachments or buttons, as they aren’t used to treat as complex malocclusions as Invisalign can.
Byte treatment also includes a HyperByte device which is a very unique technological innovation that significantly speeds up treatment.
Both Byte and Invisalign aligners are personalised to fit your exact mouth and designed individually to shift your teeth into position in line with a customized treatment plan. Invisalign uses a 3D scanner technology called iTero to create your treatment plan; Byte uses either a scan if you have one done at a dental studio or impressions that you make yourself using a home impression kit.
Invisalign aligners are made by Align Technology which has a long track history of research and development into aligner technology. Byte, being a much newer company, has partnered with an undisclosed manufacturer of aligners which supplies and makes aligners for their patients.
Average treatment time: Byte vs Invisalign
The exact length of treatment will depend on various factors – including the severity of your alignment or bite issues and how regularly you wear your aligners.
Your treatment with Invisalign will take on average from between 12 to 18 months from start to finish, although it could take much less time if your issue is quite minor – or even longer for more complex cases. If you’re eligible for Invisalign Express, then the treatment duration will be much shorter.
By comparison, the average treatment time with Byte is one of the fastest among aligner brands – at around just 3 months.
In part this speedy treatment is due to its innovative HyperByte technology which is used daily for 5 to 10 minutes and encourages faster teeth movements. The device emits micro pulses that can also help reduce discomfort and can help to provide more accurate results too.
Dental network: Byte vs Invisalign
Byte offers a network of around 200 dentists and orthodontists across the USA. Invisalign by comparison has a network of almost 100,000 dentists and orthodontists in over 90 countries worldwide.
If you are keen to have face-to-face consultations and checkups then you will have more choice of dentists or orthodontists with Invisalign. Byte has far fewer dentist options, but as it’s geared towards remote dentistry, then you will still have access to a specialist via their teledentistry offering.
FAQs about Byte vs Invisalign
Is Byte better than Invisalign treatment?
Many people want to know which is best – Invisalign or Byte. The answer really depends on what you consider most important – whether its price, reputation, treatment time or something else.
In terms of price, Byte is probably going to work out more affordable. However, if you’re eligible for Invisalign Express then costs may be quite similar. If you’re looking to treat a complex issue, then Invisalign may be a better option – in fact you may not even be a candidate for Byte.
Is Byte bad for your teeth?
Bite and alignment issues can have a variety of effects which can be detrimental to your oral health. That’s why many dentists and orthodontists will recommend treatment with aligners or braces.
So what you should really be asking is not whether aligners like Byte are bad for your teeth, but whether having misaligned teeth and bite issues are bad for your teeth and your health.
Are Byte aligners worth it?
Aligners can help to treat certain bite and alignment issues and there are thousands of positive stories online about how transforming a smile can actually help to transform your whole life.
While appearances shouldn’t be everything in this world, they do matter to many people. It will be up to you to decide whether you want to, and can afford to, spend money on transforming your smile.
Can Invisalign fix an overbite?
Invisalign is able to treat mild, moderate, and some severe alignment and bite issues including overbites.
For younger patients whose teeth are still growing (under the age of 12) then an overbite can be corrected by wearing Invisalign mandibular advancement appliances.
For adults, elastics can be worn with attachments to correct an overbite which help to incrementally shift teeth into position.
Pros and Cons: Byte vs Invisalign
Now that you have a thorough understanding of what Byte and Invisalign offer, it’s useful to create a detailed list of each brand’s pros and cons to help you in your decision making process.
Pros and cons of Byte
Pros
- Offers the choice between wearing all-day or all-night aligners;
- Has a dental network of around 200 dentists and orthodontists located in 50 states across the USA;
- Offers fully remote teledentistry services, which means you don’t have to visit a dental office in person at all;
- Offers a home impression kit so you can take molds of your own teeth, helping you avoid the need to go in to a dental studio for a 3D dental scan;
- Fast average treatment time, at around 3 to 6 months;
- Treatment includes Byte’s HyperByte device which helps to speed up treatment times;
- Offers a lifetime guarantee;
- Your first pair of retainers are included in your treatment price.
Cons
- Limited number of dentists and orthodontists to choose from compared with Invisalign;
- Cannot treat as wide a variety of moderate to severe dental alignment and bite issues as Invisalign and some patients may therefore not be eligible for Byte treatment;
- Doesn’t offer the ability to have in-office, face-to-face check ups;
- Limited experience compared with Invisalign in terms of treating patients with aligners and in terms of research and development.
Pros and cons of Invisalign
Pros
- Invisalign can treat a wide range of dental issues including some cases of severe misalignment and bite issues;
- Invisalign Express treatment offers shorter and more affordable treatment, tailored for those with less severe dental alignment cases;
- Has a long history of research and development into aligner materials, precision tooth movements, and treating customers with aligners;
- Has a large network of dentists and orthodontists around the world with close to 100,000 dental providers, which gives a wide range of choice for customers to select a suitable dentist;
- By requiring face-to-face check ups with your dentist, your treatment is closely monitored by the same specialist each time;
- 3D scans are made using iTero software which is used to make a highly customized treatment plan to shift your teeth precisely into their new positions.
Cons
- Doesn’t offer a nighttime-only aligner treatment option;
- Doesn’t offer remote or teledentistry options;
- No option to do a home impression kit;
- On average, their treatment time is longer than Byte;
- On average, Invisalign is more expensive than Byte – unless you have a mild alignment issue and are eligible for Invisalign Express.
Final thoughts on Byte vs Invisalign
Our review of Byte and Invisalign clear aligners has looked at various points of comparison between the two brands. In terms of price and affordability, much will depend on the complexity of your case.
If your case is mild and simple to treat, you may be eligible for Invisalign Express which may be priced quite similarly to Byte aligners.
If however, you have a severe bite or alignment issue then you may not be eligible for Byte – and Invisalign in this case would be more expensive than what others would pay at Byte. For moderate issues, you may end up paying a bit more for Invisalign but you’d need to get a quote to be able to compare precisely.
In terms of treatment times, if your issue is mild enough that you are eligible for Invisalign Express then treatment times will be very similar to Byte. If your dental issue is moderate to severe than your treatment time with Invisalign will likely be longer than with Byte. However, if you opt for the Byte nighttime aligners, which have a slower treatment time, then Invisalign may compare in terms of treatment duration.
One of the most significant differences between the two companies is that Invisalign requires traditional face-to face consultations and check ups whereas Byte treatment can be monitored completely remotely.
If you’re specifically looking for remote teledentistry then you may prefer opting for Byte; whereas if you want the security and safety of having face-to-face checkups and consultations with a dentist, then you’ll probably want to opt for Invisalign.
In terms of reputation and customer reviews, Invisalign has a long history of treating patients with lots of experience and they have invested many years into research and technology for the design of their products. Byte is a newer brand but has also built up an impressive reputation in a short period of time with many happy customer reviews online.
If price is your main consideration and deciding factor, then you’ll need to check if you’re eligible for Byte or Invisalign Express. Byte is generally less expensive than Invisalign, but if you’re eligible for Invisalign Express, then the costs may actually be quite similar.
If your dental issue is too severe, you may not be eligible for Byte and may need to look at alternatives like traditional braces or Invisalign.
While your exact dental issue and complexity will have a bearing on which brand you choose (and are eligible for), in general Invisalign is more suitable for moderate to severe cases. If you’re eligible for Byte, it may be a preferred option for anyone wanting a teledensity solution or if you specifically want to wear aligners at night only.