Byte vs. Invisalign: What Are the Differences
Table of Contents
- Cost Concerns
- Procedures
- Conditions
- Timeframe
- Which Should You Choose?
On the surface, Byte and Invisalign seem similar. Both companies offer clear aligners you can use to straighten teeth and improve your smile. But differences appear when you look a little deeper.
While both can work to effectively straighten your teeth, there can be differences in treatment cost, specialties and timelines.
Cost concerns: which is less expensive?
Adjusting your smile isn't just good for your appearance. Straightening your teeth can also make teeth cleaning easier, and that could improve your health. Since aligners bring these health benefits, insurance may help you to cover the cost.
Insurance will sometimes cover a portion of the fees for either aligner treatment, depending on a number of factors. But if your insurance doesn't cover aligners, it doesn't mean that aligners are out of your financial reach.
Invisalign can be significantly more expensive than Byte. Without assistance from insurance, Invisalign may cost over $5,000. Treatment with Byte costs either $2,099 or $2,499, depending on whether you use the all-day or at-night aligner
Why is Invisalign more expensive? A few factors could play a part.
Supervision: With Invisalign, you'll have many in-person appointments with a dental professional. Each one involves an exam and a conversation. While this is ideal for some, it can mean greater costs. Byte supports a totally remote treatment, with no in-person appointments.
Potential markup: Orthodontists and dentists can have an influence on treatment costs, which can vary by provider and location.
If you qualify for Byte aligners, you could save quite a bit of money while straightening your smile.
Procedures: which is easier?
Treatment with both Invisalign and Byte aligners begins with impressions or scans of your upper and lower teeth. Then, trays of differing sizes move your teeth into a new position. How and where you do that work separates the two companies.
Choose Invisalign, and you'll follow this plan:
Your doctor uses a scanner to take 3D pictures of your teeth.
You'll wear your trays almost all the time, and you'll replace them on a schedule set by your doctor.
You'll meet your doctor regularly to discuss your teeth and your trays. In some visits, you'll take home your next few sets of aligners. In others, you'll just leave with advice.
Byte is a little different:
Order an impression kit with trays and putty. Follow a simple process to push your teeth into the putty, and send the trays in for analysis.
A plan is created for you and if you approve it, you'll buy your complete set of trays all at once.
You'll do regular virtual check-ins, and someone is always ready to help if needed.
If it's important to you to see a dentist or orthodontist in person, you might enjoy working with the Invisalign system. If you'd prefer to skip the hassle of appointments, you might enjoy the freedom that comes with doctor-prescribed, at-home aligners from Byte.
While Invisalign is often best for people with more severe alignment issues or complications, Byte aligners are an excellent choice for people with mild to moderate smile problems.
Conditions you need treated: which is right for you?
There are all sorts of issues that can impair your smile, from gaps to crooked or twisted teeth. Doctors typically grade these issues by severity, and some are worse than others.
Invisalign can be used to treat mild, moderate, and some severe cases. Some orthodontists may use braces to tackle the first part of treatment, and they use aligners to take you across the finish line. Others use aligner trays only. Almost any problem with your teeth can be adjusted with Invisalign.
Byte aligners are made for mild or moderate dental issues. Your impressions will be evaluated to see if Byte aligners are right for you. Sometimes, the help you need is more than our aligners can offer, and you'll be given a clear answer about what is possible.
Timeframe: how long does it take?
Your mouth is distinct, and the help you receive should be personalized. It's very difficult to say with certainty how long any treatment program will take unless dental professionals perform an exam and make that determination for you.
Given that Invisalign is sometimes used in severe smile cases, and Byte aligners aren't designed for those issues, treatment timeline averages between the two companies are very different.
Treatment with Byte aligners typically lasts about 4 months.
Byte offers an accessory that can help make treatment quicker and more comfortable. HyperByte® system uses gentle vibration which may help speed up teeth movement, so teeth may move faster. You use this tool with your aligners for only 5 minutes per day.*
Invisalign currently doesn't offer a tool like this.
Which should you choose?
We know Byte aligners aren't the right solution for every person and every smile. But we've worked hard to develop a system for busy people who want to tackle their smile issues at home, on their schedules, in a way that fits their budget.
If your alignment issues or are more severe, or if you have other complications, using Invisalign can often be the right choice. It can also be ideal for people who prefer to work with their own dental care provider for their treatment, or those who prefer face to face interaction.
Either system can provide excellent outcomes. Whichever is right for you, give it a try. It might be the perfect fit to straighten your smile.
* Preliminary clinical studies of small groups of users have shown that daily recommended use of a high-frequency seating device functionally equivalent to HyperByte with clear aligners may help with comfort and speed of tooth movement.