Do Nighttime Aligners Work? How to Straighten Your Teeth While You Sleep

Advertising Disclosure- Our content is free because we earn a commission when you click or make a purchase using our site.

Nighttime aligners may sound like a dream come true. Unlike regular aligners you don’t have to worry about wearing them at school or work, talking with them, or removing them while you eat. And really, who wouldn’t want to go to bed and wake up with straighter teeth?

But are they for real? Do nighttime aligners actually work? 

The short answer is yes, they can. For the right people, particularly those who have previously used corrective dental devices or are looking for minor to moderate correction. 

So where do you get them? One of our favorite names in at-home teeth alignment is Byte. They’ve introduced a premium version of their invisible aligners called byte-at-nyte that, as the name implies, only need to be worn at night, making it totally possible to straighten your teeth while you sleep. 

Who Do Nighttime Teeth Aligners Work For?

The big caveats for nighttime aligners are fairly standard. Not everyone is going to be a candidate for clear aligners at all, let alone a version that is only worn during the night. Clear aligners in general are designed for minor to moderate teeth correction which may include space between teeth, rotations, crowding, and some bite correction.

Anyone with a misaligned or misshapen jaw and teeth arches or other severe dental problems may need more intensive medical treatment than invisible aligners of any kind can offer.

Because invisible aligners aren’t a viable option for everyone, byte will need to get to know you a little better. Potential patients start with a quick 30-second quiz that helps determine, from a high level, if you’re a good fit for aligners.

The quiz includes questions about your history with braces or aligners, your spacing and crowding issues, and your motivations. With that info, they’ll be able to follow up with you via email to let you know if you’re a potential candidate. If the initial assessment seems promising both places will need a closer look at your teeth to determine your ultimate eligibility.  

How do you get nighttime aligners? 

If you decide to move forward with invisible aligners from Byte after taking the quiz to assess your initial eligibility, your treatment will begin with ordering a kit to do an at-home impression of your teeth. The home impression kit is $29 and if you need a little help with the process you can have an “impression session” where you dial in or FaceTime their team while you go through it. Once you’ve returned your impression kit their orthodontists will review your impressions, create a treatment plan, and then explain your treatment plan to you using a fully interactive 3D model. When you’re comfortable and ready, the next step will be to receive your aligners.

Even if the initial quiz assessments indicate that you are a candidate after you complete your home impression kit, the dental professionals at byte might determine that aligners aren’t right for you. But if that’s the case you’ll get a refund on your impression kit. 

Every set of aligners is custom-made for your mouth and your treatment plan is overseen by licensed dental professionals who design each person’s individualized process from beginning to end. 

How long do nighttime aligners take to work 

The good news is if you’re looking to straighten your teeth while you sleep, most people who are eligible candidates for daytime clear aligners are also a fit for nighttime aligners. The biggest difference of course is the duration of wear. For the standard aligners, you’ll wear them for 22 hours a day. With nighttime aligners, you’ll only wear them 10 hours a day. So what does that mean?

• Your results will take longer. The process takes about twice as long as it would with the regular aligners.

• You can expect to wear byte nighttime aligners for 5-6 months compared to the 3-4 months it takes for round-the-clock aligners

• Estimated treatment times are estimates only because more complex cases may take longer.

• If you only sleep 6-8 hours a night, be prepared to put in your aligners a couple of hours before you go to bed (or wear them for a bit after you wake up) so you can get your full 10 hours of continuous wear.

• If you’re in a hurry to get straighter teeth because of an upcoming event like a wedding or graduation, byte nighttime aligners can give you effective results if you plan a little ahead.

One of the reasons byte’s program works so quickly is because their treatment also includes Hyperbyte technology. It’s a high-frequency vibration device that transmits soft micropulses through the roots of the teeth to the surrounding bone to speed up movement. You’ll have to bite down gently on the device for about 5 minutes a day to help accelerate your results. 

Do nighttime aligners hurt? 

They can. As your teeth are moving around it’s likely you’re going to feel it. It’s not unusual to experience some soreness, particularly in the first few days as your teeth adjust. Some patients have described the feeling as “pressure” or “discomfort” more than “pain” while others have said the process was “painless”. So, like most things, each person’s experience will feel a little different. 

What happens when you’re done with nighttime aligners?

When your time with the nighttime aligners is done, the next step will involve wearing a custom fit retainer. Without using the retainer your teeth will shift back to their original positions, undoing all of your progress. 

With byte-at-nyte your first retainer is included in the cost of your aligners. Their retainers are also designed to be worn for about 6 months before getting a new one and replacements will cost $129. You should also plan to wear your retainer each night for at least 10 years to life. Byte aligner packages also include your hyberbyte device and a bottle of ByteBright a 3-in-1 teeth whitener, breath freshener, and aligner cleaner. 

Byte also offers a byte-for-life guarantee which is their promise to provide additional treatment at no additional cost if your teeth ever move out of alignment, provided you are wearing your retainer as directed.

How involved are Dentists and orthodontists? 

Byte works with over 200 licensed doctors, dentists, and orthodontists across the U.S, who have extensive experience with invisible aligners. Once they receive your impressions you’ll be matched with a licensed orthodontist in your state.

Your professional will design and talk you through your treatment and before you commit, you’ll be able to work through any changes or revisions with the doctor. You’ll also be able to reach your care team 7 days a week, whether you need to talk to the doctor, or just ask a few questions. 

How much do Nighttime aligners cost?

The impression kit costs $29, which will be refunded if you are not found to be a candidate for treatment. The aligner kit, which includes all of your aligners, hyperbyte, BrightByte, and your first retainer is $2,295 or $99 a month for $29 months with a deposit of $449. After using byte aligners you’ll also need to plan on spending about $260 a year thereafter on new retainers.

The Pros and cons of Nighttime aligners

So, we’ve established that night-only teeth straightening treatments do work, but here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons of nighttime aligners. 

Pros: 

• You can get a straighter smile while you sleep

• Free teeth whitening 

• Gets fast results in 5-6 months

• Get started from the comfort of home

• The process is overseen by licensed dental professionals in your state

• 24/7 customer service access

• It’s less expensive and less time-consuming than most traditional orthodontics and other invisible aligners. 

Cons

• Works for many, but not all

• Nighttime-only aligners take a little longer to get results than full-time invisible aligners

• Can cause some pain and discomfort

• Requires nighttime retainers permanently after

Byte aligners are highly viable options for mild to moderate teeth straightening that can be done largely at home and through the help of teledentistry. They also bring expertise and advanced technology to the table to allow you to get the smile you want, while you sleep.

It’s important to end this by saying that while part of the appeal of byte is the ability to undergo most or all of the process at home and through teledentistry, it’s always a good idea to visit your primary dentist before undergoing any treatment and to continue seeing your dentist throughout the process for regular check-ups. 

---

More Articles You Might Like