Smile Direct Club vs Byte

A perfect smile is everyone’s right, but some people are born with certain dental issues that cause problems in their daily lives. Teeth crowding or spacing issues may not seem like much, but it could cause your confidence to become low.

To ensure that everyone can lead a confident life, clear aligners companies bring new treatment plans to the market. Two such clear aligner brands are Byte and Smile Direct Club. This article compares both these brands based on different factors to understand the better option.

Read on to find out the better brand between Smile Direct Club vs Byte.

Overview Of Key Differences between Smile Direct Club and Byte

Let us know more about the company before you get into a detailed review of their products.

Byte

Byte is an online clear aligner company that was established in 2018. Relatively new in the market, the company was able to attract customers with their short treatment times. They manufacture clear aligners that feel and look the same as Invisalign.

The clear aligners were made from clear BPA-free plastic and fit your teeth perfectly. Since its inception, Byte has fulfilled its promise of providing quality products, faster treatment times, and great customer support.

Smile Direct Club

Smile Direct Club has been in the market since 2014 and is one of the largest and older home aligner companies. It has tended to more than 750,000 customers and has over 2000 employees working under them.

The company is widely known for its convenient services and aligner effectiveness. Smile Direct Club has SmileShops all over the country, which makes it an access point for customers who are not comfortable with at-home treatment.

Functioning Of The Products

Both Byte and Smile Direct Club deals with clear aligners used for teeth alignment treatment. However, despite the similarity in the product, there are differences in their service pattern. To understand these brands better, let us compare their product functioning.

Byte

Byte offers a wide range of products for their full teeth straightening treatment plan. You can opt for Byte impression kit, all-day aligners, nighttime aligners, HyperByte, and Snow at-home whitening kit.

The clear aligners are available in all-day and nighttime forms. Depending on your aligner comfort zone, you can choose whether you want to wear the aligners all day or only at night. The impression kit is the first thing that you need to buy. With this, you get a 3D impression of your teeth assessed by Byte for providing your treatment plan.

Hyperlite is a device provided only by Byte for enhancing the treatment time. This is available for free with any of the treatment plans. Additionally, Byte provides a teeth whitening kit called Snow.

Smile Direct Club

Smile Direct Club offers three primary products to its customers. These are the all-day clear aligners, nighttime aligners, and impression kits. The impression kit gives for free to the customers to take a 3D impression of their teeth.

Based on the impression, the orthodontists at Smile Direct will formulate a treatment plan for the customer. The all-day aligners are mainly suggested for everyone since it has a faster treatment time.

People who are not comfortable with all-day aligners can opt for nighttime aligners. However, the treatment time for nighttime aligners is very long. The company does not provide any additional teeth care kits like its competitor Byte but has retainers provided with each treatment.

Features

In the Byte vs. Smile Direct Club debate, let us now compare the features to know who the winner is.

Smile Direct vs Byte: Aligner Effectiveness

Smile Direct Club started by partnering with AlignTech to manufacture their clear aligners. Currently, they are making their aligners in-house. Byte has never disclosed their partnership regarding the manufacturing of their aligners. However, they promise to provide toxin-free, BPA-free material.

Both Byte and Smile Direct manufacture aligners that cover your gums. This increases the effectiveness of the treatment and produces better results.

Smile Direct vs Byte: Price Structure

Byte has a sticker price of $1895 for its all-day clear aligner, while Smile Direct provides it at $1950. The nighttime aligners for Byte cost a little higher than Smile Direct at $2295. However, Smile Direct provides nighttime aligners at the same price as their all-day aligners.

The initial cost for Byte clear aligner treatment includes retainers. However, Smile Direct provides their retainers at $99 after their treatment. The impression kit from Byte costs $95, while from Smile Direct, it costs $49. You can get the impression kit free from any SmileShop.

Both these companies have financing options with a down payment structure. The best thing about this is the lack of a credit check which approves every customer.

Pros and Cons between Smile Direct Club and Byte

Byte Pros

1. Does not need customers to go for in-office visits
2. Equipped with HyperByte device for enhanced effectiveness
3. Lifetime guarantee
4. Treatment time is short

Byte Cons

1. The pricing structure is higher than some competitors
2. The insurance reimbursement process is complicated

Smile Direct Club Pros

1. Treatment plan provided by licensed orthodontist and dentist
2. Made from BPA-free aligners
3. Does not need in-house dentist visits
4. Low cost of braces

Smile Direct Club Cons

1. Aligners only suitable for minor corrections
2. Safety and efficacy is controversial

FAQs

Which Clear Aligner Company Will Give Faster Results?

Compared to Smile Direct, Byte provides faster results both for their all-day and nighttime aligners. While Smile Direct sets the recovery time at 6 to 8 months, Byte promises to complete the treatment in 4 to 6 months.

Which Clear Aligner Type Should I Choose?

Both Smile Direct and Byte provide all-day and nighttime clear aligners. While daytime aligners are mostly recommended, nighttime aligners are more convenient. They are suitable for people who snack frequently and are uncomfortable with wearing aligners outside.

Final Thoughts

Smile Direct Club and Byte both have certain pros and cons. However, in the debate of Byte vs. Smile Direct Club, we would choose Byte. The company has focused on providing enhanced treatment services to its customers at an affordable price range.

The company also focuses on shortening the treatment time despite the wear time being similar to its competitor. From the comparison, you can determine that Smile Direct Club started strong but has been overshadowed by Byte in current times.

With the growing desire for perfect and symmetric smiles amongst people, the orthodontic industry has observed a surge. Interested individuals are seeking techniques to take away their alignment woes.

Two of the most famous methods are conventional braces and invisible aligner Byte. For laymen who are not acquainted with the two procedures, they might be confusing. It can be unsettling to decide amongst the two without having prerequisite knowledge.

Hence in this article, we will be pitting Byte vs. Braces by providing all the necessary information and differing features. Doing this will potentially help the reader in making an informed choice.

Overview of Byte and Braces

Before engaging in the product functioning and characteristics, we should get acquainted with the two concepts. Below mentioned is a brief overview giving us a peek into what’s in store for the probable future customer.

Byte

Ever since its launch back in 2018, Byte has managed to garner an impressive base of clientele and reviews. This invisible aligner brand took the market by storm by providing its services in the form of an at-home format.

Byte comes with an at-home impression kit which is later converted into a set of aligners and mailed to the customer. Byte dismisses the need for a routine dental checkup with its remote monitoring technique.

Braces

Braces have been the trusted and traditional way preferred by orthodontists for years to resolve dental issues. Braces are widely used to manage several severe and general dental concerns and have consistently shown positive results.

Braces have to be operated upon by skilled orthodontists through series of long sessions in a clinic. They need routine checkups in order to adjust the wiring o the braces to ensure adequate progress in the patient.

Byte vs. Braces Feature Comparison

In order to select the apt treatment plan, it is essential to understand how the two products operate.

Byte Clear Aligners

Being an at-home aligner brand, Byte sends the customer an impression kit. The kit provides molds to get their measurements which they have to mail to the company. Skilled dentists and orthodontists then study the impressions and decide whether the customer is a viable patient.

After qualifying as a patient, Byte sends them a designed set of 22 aligners which they have to switch up in the coming weeks. These targeted teeth-straightening aligners ensure the progress of the treatment in the right place and direction.

In approximately 3-6months, Byte claims to treat mild misalignment and spacing issues using its specialized technology and feature. Comparing Byte vs. Braces on a time parameter, it is easy to say that Byte is a clear winner.

Braces

Braces are temporary metal fixtures to the patient’s teeth that stay for a period of few months to 2-3 years. Braces are the conventionally practiced method by dentists in order to deal with mild and extensive dental concerns.

Braces are put on patients with skilled orthodontists offering professional assistance and cannot be performed solo at home. Braces treatment involves several routine checkups scheduled in weeks in order to adjust the wiring. This ensures that there is gradual progress with each adjustment to reach the desired result.

Features

Let’s look at the characteristic features of both the products in order to gauge what they have to offer. This will help us assess Byte vs. Braces with a deeper understanding.

Design

Byte designs a series of invisible aligners which have to be worn over dedicated durations in order to see the results. Byte offers its customers two treatment plan options. These are the All day plan and the At night plan, which has to be worn for 22 and 10 hours (including sleeping hours), respectively.

Braces are an extensive orthodontic treatment that involves inserting a semi-permanent fixture in the patient’s face. These fixtures are made of metal and require professional administering in order to work. Every few weeks, adjustments are made to these wires in order to acquire the desired dental results.

Technology

Byte uses the following technologies that up to their performance a notch and helps gather more clients.

• Hyperlite Technology 

Byte claims that chewing on its high-frequency tool, HyperByte, for 5 minutes daily reduces the treatment time to half.

• BrightByte Whitening Treatment

Byte provides a 3-in-1 foam cleanser, whitener, and breath freshener with every treatment plan. This system works towards whitening the teeth while wearing the aligners.

• Smile Science System

Byte ensures appealing precision using five points of analysis. This helps decide the best tooth placement for the patient’s distinctive facial structure.

Braces are pretty basic in terms of their installation and Procedure. This traditional method can opt for rubber or bedewed brackets that encompass the fixture on the teeth.

Price Information

Since braces are an in-clinic treatment plan which requires frequent contact and assistance of a dentist, they cost more. In monetary terms, Braces clearly ranks ahead in Byte vs. Braces.

Traditional braces cost somewhere ranging from $5000 to $6000 along with the time commitment required. Apart from this, clinics also have additional charges for retainers and aftercare.

Byte, on the other hand, advertises its treatment as $1895 for All-Day aligners and $2295 for At-Night aligners. It is clear that Byte is the affordable alternative for braces as its total treatment cost sums up lower than the minimum cost for braces.

Byte vs. Braces Pros and Cons

Byte Pros:

• Remote teeth straightening Procedure
• Short treatment duration of 3-6 months with a lifetime guarantee
• Home impression kit procedure
• Nighttime-only retainer option
• Unpaid retainers and aftercare

Byte Cons:

• No personalized treatment due to absence with dentists
• Fails in tackling large gaps or severe crowding completely

Braces Pros:

• Successfully treats various mild and severe orthodontic concerns.
• Personalized interaction with the orthodontists
• Dentists can closely monitor and accelerate the progress.
• Prevent gum diseases, cavities, and decay
• Improve proportions

Braces Cons:

• Highly visible to the eye
• Prohibition towards several foods for precaution
• High-end treatment

FAQs

Does Byte treat patients faster than braces?

It depends on the severity of the teeth concerns. Patients with mild misalignment and spacing issues might prefer this treatment due to its shorter treatment span. 

 What is the treatment time like for Byte vs. Braces?

Conventional braces can take 18 months to 3 years to resolve the concerning issue. The treatment plan for Byte ranges on an average between 3-6 months.

Can customers use Byte’s HyperByte feature more than once a day?

No. It is advisable to use the HyperByte feature for only 5 minutes a day or 10 minutes for at night retainers.

What is the frequency of changing Byte aligners?

Patients religiously using HyperByte, need to switch their aligners every week as advised by their orthodontist. Byte conducts remote dental checkups every two weeks.

Final Recommendation

Though both the treatments work towards improving the dental condition and resolving the concerns of the patients, they have stark differences. Through this article, we have established that different patients require a different approach.

But the final verdict on Byte vs. Braces is Byte since it is affordable, less time-consuming, and opt for mild alignment and spacing issues. Byte takes all the credit for innovation and technological advances, as well as an impressive price point.

Night-time aligners are perfect for people who want to correct teeth imperfections but aren’t comfortable with dealing with them during their waking hours. Clients with mild to moderate dental concerns are the ideal candidates for these aligners. Many dental servicing brands offer their version of night aligners. But did you know that Smile Direct Club introduced the first-ever clear aligners for the night-time? They are available for $1950, which you can pay upfront or cover in monthly installments. 

Most Smile Direct Club Night Aligners’ reviews have three things in common – they offer a discreet way to correct teeth alignment issues, they offer a quick treatment time (four to six months), and they don’t cost a liver and kidney.

How do Smile Direct Club Night Aligners Work?

Up until 2019, Smile Direct Club shared a manufacturing partnership with the same company responsible for Invisalign, Align Technology. This collaboration may no longer be in operation, but Smile Direct still knows its way around combining the tried-and-tested technologies of Invisalign and modifying them to make their products suitable for home use. Smile Direct also remains one of the handfuls of dental servicing brands to offer night-time aligners.

According to Direct Smile Night Aligners’ reviews, they have the same goal as their day-time wear counterparts – to correct mild to moderate teeth concerns. However, they may take a little longer to deliver results. This is because of the simple fact that you wear day aligners for more hours than you do night aligners. The estimated time frame for wearing these aligners is 10 hours per day. If that’s more sleep time than you can afford, it’ll help to wear them a few hours before or after bed to make up for lost time.

Smile Direct Club Night Aligners’ Features

If you qualify as a candidate for their night-time aligners, you can expect to see results in about ten weeks. The best part of it all is that Smile Direct aligners help you achieve your dream smile at up to 60% lesser pricing than regular teeth correction braces. Smile Direct’s night aligners are BPA-free and custom-made for each individual. 

These aligners are recommended for mild to moderate dental issues. If you’re looking to correct more severe spacing, crooking, or crowding issues, you may want to look at other options. Qualified customers receive customized treatment plans and aligners that are specially designed for them. Your aligner is set to ‘move’ with your teeth. This is why we strongly recommend that you stick to the treatment plan provided by your orthodontist and not deviate from it. 

How Do I Sign Up for Smile Direct Night Aligners?

Here’s what you need to do to get started on your journey towards a healthy- and beautiful-looking set of teeth. First, book an appointment at any Smile Direct Club clinic and get your teeth scanned at no cost. The other option is to order an impression kit. It lets you take photos and mold of your teeth from the comfort of your home. Mail the results to the professionals at Smile Direct. An orthodontist there assesses your teeth impressions and walks you through a treatment plan if you are eligible. Once this is all set, you receive a starter kit. 

A Smile Direct Night Aligner kit costs $1950, with additional whitening treatment with no added charges. Once treatment is over, you receive post-treatment retainers to keep your teeth in place. 

The Pros and Cons of Smile Direct Night Aligners

Pros:

• They are discreet because you only wear them at night.
• They offer fairly quick results.
• They are noticeably transparent, making them almost invisible.
• You have monthly payment options.
• No trips to the clinic are necessary because everything is virtual.
• Smile Direct Club Night Aligners’ reviews testify to the products’ worth.

Cons:

• May not be ideal for clients who prefer in-person consultations.

FAQs

Which Is Better – Smile Direct Club Night Aligners Vs. Byte Night-Time Aligners?

Both aligners are for at-home use and are cheaper alternatives to traditional Invisalign treatment. Smile Direct may be the first to introduce night aligners to the masses, but Byte promises a faster turnaround time and offers a lifetime guarantee. 

Smile Direct’s night aligners are similar to their day-time ones, while Byte incorporates specialized designs for their night aligners. Nonetheless, both dental services rely on a straight cut for their aligners. Price-wise, Smile Direct ($1950) offers cheaper options than Byte ($2295). But this is justifiable because Byte promises to deliver results in half the time, and their kit comes with the HyperByte device – one that costs about $699 separately.

Do Smile Direct Night Aligners Work?

Yes, there’s no reason why they won’t. Just be sure to diligently stick to the prescribed 10-hour per day aligner time. The results may take longer than when you’re wearing day-time aligners, but it’s a more convenient option if you’re looking for something discreet.