Safest Teeth Whiteners
The safest ways to whiten your teeth explained
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Candid and Byte offer at-home aligner treatment (also called direct-to-consumer aligners). Both provide affordable teeth straightening for thousands less than braces and Invisalign.
Unlike braces, you don’t have to visit an orthodontist throughout treatment. The entire process can be completed from the comfort of home.
Byte treatment is typically quicker than Candid (4-6 months vs. 4-12 months). For this reason, we only recommend Byte for mild cases of teeth misalignment. Moving teeth too fast can result in an improper bite, pain, and/or root resorption, which can lead to tooth loss.
Candid is a great choice for most patients with mild to moderate teeth misalignment. However, it can also treat the most severe cases of teeth misalignment. Braces are the best and most effective option for patients with jaw misalignment.
Candid (hybrid option) | Byte (at-home option) | |
Known For | Comprehensive Care | Convenient Treatment |
Cost | $3,300 (on average, depends on provider) | $1,999-$2,399 |
Payment Plan | Depends on Provider | All-Day: $249 down, $70/month for 32 months At-Night: $299 down, $84/month for 32 months |
Insurance Coverage | Yes | Yes |
Treatment Cases | Mild to Severe | Mild to Moderate |
Social 6/12 or Full Arch* | Full Arch (Moves All Teeth) | Social 6/12 (Moves Front Teeth) |
At-Home Impressions | No — In-Person Only | Yes |
In-Person Scan Option | Yes — CandidPro Locations | No — Impressions Only |
Mobile App Scans/Ortho- Directed Monitoring |
Yes | No |
Night Aligner Option | No — For Safety Reasons | Yes |
* Social 6/12 addresses cosmetic concerns (i.e., straightening the front teeth). It does not fix the entire bite. Full arch addresses function first and cosmetics second. The aligners move all teeth, rather than just the front teeth.
In this article, we’ll compare Byte and Candid in-depth to ensure you pick the best aligner for your needs.
Candid is a popular and effective aligner option. Treatment outcomes are similar to Invisalign but the aligners might cost less ($3,300 on average vs. up to $8,000).
Candid aligners address function first and cosmetics second. They are designed to move all of your teeth, rather than just the front teeth. This is known as full arch orthodontic treatment.
Candid is also the only at-home aligner company that works exclusively with orthodontists (teeth straightening experts).
You’ll receive high-quality care from a dental professional with years of experience in the industry. The same orthodontist who creates your treatment plan will track your progress via the CandidApp.
Byte is known for its fast treatment time (between 3 and 6 months). Every customer receives a HyperByte® with their aligners. This is a dental movement acceleration device that claims to reduce treatment time by about 50 percent.
Byte offers two treatment options:
Byte aligners can treat most minor to moderate cases of teeth misalignment. We recommend them for minor cases. More complicated cases typically require longer treatment times.
Although 'quick treatment' is convenient, NewMouth is concerned about the safety of straightening teeth too fast. We also recommend regular aligners over night aligners. Learn why.
Here are the main differences between Byte and Candid:
Candid treatment costs $3,300 (on average, depending on the provider).
Note: Candid discontinued at-home impression kits in 2023. The only way to begin treatment is by visiting a qualified CandidPro provider in your area. They are licensed dental professionals. The rest of your treatment will be monitored remotely by a Candid orthodontist.
Byte treatment costs $1,999 (all-day aligners). The night aligners cost $2,399 and treatment takes longer. The impression kit is an additional $95. Byte does not have an in-person consultation option.
We recommend regular aligners over night aligners. Learn why.
With Candid, your first set of retainers is free. They recommend replacing them every six months ($99 per set).
With Byte, you’ll get free replacement retainers biannually. They’ll also replace two stolen or lost retainers free of charge.
At-home aligner treatment is still a fairly new practice. SmileDirectClub was the first home teeth-straightening company that opened in 2014. They offer both in-person scans and impression kits.
Candid is the second-largest company. It has been around since 2017.
In terms of patient care, Candid has surpassed both SmileDirectClub and Byte. They offer the most hands-on remote monitoring and provide comprehensive care.
Candid is also the only at-home aligner brand that works exclusively with orthodontists (teeth straightening experts).
Byte is the youngest of all three. It opened its doors in 2018 but is quickly becoming more popular.
Byte currently offers the best deals on refinements and has a Lifetime Guarantee.
Based on our research, Candid and Byte are both safe and effective at-home aligner options.
However, Candid is better in terms of overall treatment quality because they use the ‘full arch’ straightening method. In other words, Candid aligners move all of your teeth, rather than just the front teeth.
This means you’ll receive a more comprehensive treatment plan that addresses function first and cosmetics second. The bite is treated as a whole to ensure long-term success.
Byte aligners only move your top six and bottom six teeth. This form of treatment is referred to as 'social 6' or 'social 12.' It consists of flaring the front teeth out without moving the molars.
Candid also doesn’t have a ‘night aligner’ option. This is because there is no proof that night aligners are safe or effective.
Without a more consistent wear schedule, your teeth can be left in a limbo state of inflammation. It would take your teeth and gums longer to heal. This results in more discomfort and longer treatment times.
Of all at-home aligners, Candid has the best remote monitoring.
Candid treatment is monitored remotely through the CandidApp. This app is available on iOS and Android. It allows you to connect to your virtual orthodontist office at any time.
You’ll send in progress photos every 2 weeks using the CandidScan and Smile Stretcher. The scan box connects to your phone and takes detailed images of tooth movement. You can also set up push notifications to ensure you don’t miss a scan.
Once you submit the photos, you’ll hear back from your orthodontist within a few hours. They will let you know if it’s safe to move on to the next aligner set.
If treatment isn’t tracking correctly, your orthodontist will send screenshots of your teeth showing what went wrong and steps to get it back on track.
Byte does not have a mobile app for remote monitoring. But you are asked to send in progress photos every few weeks. Also, your treatment case may not be overseen by a licensed orthodontist. Byte works with orthodontists, general dentists, and doctors.
Candid treatment takes between 4 and 12 months. Byte treatment takes between 4 and 6 months.
Moving teeth too fast can result in an improper bite, more pain, and/or root resorption. This is why we recommend Byte for minor cases of teeth misalignment. Candid is a better choice for complex cases.
Candid aligners are fabricated in Silicon Valley. They are made of Zendura FLX, a tri-layer material that provides a mixture of comfort and force. It is a textured, frosted plastic that looks similar to your tooth surfaces.
Byte was acquired by Dentsply Sirona in 2020, a reputable dental manufacturing company. The aligners are made of shiny, smooth, clear plastic. This can make your teeth look abnormally shiny. Despite this, many reviews say the aligners are still very natural-looking.
Both aligners are stain-resistant, durable, and BPA- and phthalate-free. A gentle whitening foam is also included in every purchase. We recommend only drinking water with the aligners in. Don’t drink hot liquids as they can warp the plastic.
In addition, Candid and Byte aligners are cut straight across the top and slightly overlap the gums, which has been shown to increase tooth movement effectiveness.
Candid and Byte both have good customer service. You can expect a reply within 24 hours, although they usually respond within a few minutes.
Byte’s customer service is available daily from 8am to 6pm (Pacific time). Candid’s customer support is available daily from 9am to 7pm (Eastern time). This includes weekends.
Candid has several platforms where you can reach customer service, including a chatbot and video chats. The CandidApp also has a 4.9/5 star rating on the App Store. This app allows you to connect to a customer service representative very easily.
Byte is available via phone, email, and social media channels. Candid support is also available on social media, including Instagram.
If you aren’t a candidate for treatment, Byte offers refunds on impression kits. But you can't get a refund once you accept the treatment plan and pay for the aligners.
The in-person consultations with Candid are usually free. But this depends entirely on your provider.
If you are unhappy with your results after treatment, Byte offers refinements (additional aligners). Candid may or may not offer refinements, depending on your provider.
Byte also offers a 5-year Smile Protection Plan and a Lifetime Guarantee. If your smile moves out of alignment, they’ll help get it back at no additional cost.
It is very easy to begin treatment with Byte. The brand offers a candidacy quiz online that you can take before ordering an impression kit. The kits cost under $100.
The main difference is that Candid only offers in-person consultations. This may be inconvenient for some people.
More specifically, with Candid, you have to visit a qualified CandidPro provider to begin treatment. These are licensed dentists who take digital scans and impressions of your teeth. You can't order an impression kit online.
After this consultation, the provider will send your scans to a Candid orthodontist, who designs your custom treatment plan.
With both brands, you’ll receive a digital treatment plan within a few weeks of taking the impressions (byte) or an in-person scan (Candid). From there, you can decide whether to approve or deny treatment.
Byte treatment is 100% remote, while Candid treatment starts in person and is monitored remotely. This means Byte is slightly more convenient, but not everyone is a candidate for treatment. For example, since Byte treatment is more hands-off, we only recommend them for minor alignment issues.
Candid treatment is overseen by a dental professional who takes your initial scans in person. This reduces the risk of error. For this reason, we recommend Candid for minor to moderate misalignment cases.
Byte and Candid are both good options for at-home aligner treatment. Here are the main differences:
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