Orthodontic offices around the nation have had to shut down or at least limit their hours because of COVID-19. And even as offices begin to reopen, it may be temporary, and many patients wonder about the safety for them or their orthodontist if they do make an appointment.
Just because in-office orthodontics have been put on hold, doesn’t mean that teeth have stopped needing straightening. And there’s one industry enjoying a surge in patients, and a type of companies. We’re talking about teledentistry and brands like Byte clear aligners.
Teeth Straightening During Quarantine
If only there were a way to straighten your teeth without having to venture outside your home into our seemingly post-apocalyptic dystopian reality. Oh, wait, there is! In fact, there’s a whole industry of clear aligners that allow you to straighten your teeth without ever seeing a dentist or an orthodontist face to face.
One of the most popular brands of at-home clear aligners is Byte. As stated in our Byte review, this brand works similarly to other at-home clear aligner systems. With most clear aligners, you can take a quick assessment online to find out if you’re a candidate, and then, you order your impression kit. Once you receive your impression kit in the mail, you take molds of your teeth and send them back in. If the molds you made are viable, a licensed doctor creates your treatment plan, and your clear aligners are made. You’ll get all of your aligners delivered at once, which is cool because you can see how your teeth alignment will progress from the beginning to the end of treatment. As you go through treatment, your assigned doctor will check in with you remotely to make sure that everything is going according to plan. After you’ve finished your last set of aligners, you begin post-treatment with retainers, as you would with any form of orthodontics.
Byte stands out from the crowd in a few important ways:
- Lifetime guarantee: byte is the only teeth aligners brand to offer a lifetime guarantee. If, after your treatment, your teeth move, byte will help you to get your smile back at the same byte cost (no additional cost) sending another set of aligners.
- Nighttime option: You might be working more from home now, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have to look good while Zooming. Byte At-Night aligners’s nighttime option lets you straighten your teeth while you sleep so your virtual coworkers will be none the wiser. These teeth aligners have a similar treatment duration than the at-day treatment. The only thing that they differ from is that the at-night retainers are made with a specific material to avoid grinding while wearing them (perfect for those who suffer from TMJ).
- HyperByte: This innovative High Frequency Vibration therapy device can reduce discomfort, and cut treatment time in half, which is why, with Byte, you can have straight teeth in just three months! You can learn more in our HyperByte review.
How has Byte been Affected?
With everyone stuck at home with nothing to do, many people have seen this as a prime opportunity to do some at-home orthodontics. Byte promises shorter treatment time than most other options, with an average treatment time of just three months. That means that if you started your Byte treatment at the beginning of the COVID pandemic, you could actually be done or nearly done with treatment now, ready to emerge from your home with a smile you’ll love.
Byte reports that their sales have surged 1,000% in the first quarter, and they are expecting over $100 million in revenue by the end of 2020. In January, they had 10,000 orders, and they are hoping to have 100,000 by December.
How is Byte Helping?
Byte is also a popular option among those who prefer to spend their money on ethical companies. The dentist behind Byte, Dr. Jon Marashi, has a vision of making dental and orthodontic care accessible to all those who need it, regardless of income.
That’s why they’ve established their ByteCares program, which works with communities to educate about oral health and help people find the affordable care they need.
During COVID-19, ByteCares has taken a step even further, now providing access to teledentistry for anyone who needs it. Byte will provide free access to anyone in the United States, through its provider network of over 200 board-certified doctors in the nation. You don’t need to be an existing Byte customer to get free help through this initiative. That means if you have any doubts about your oral health, but you can’t get in to see a dentist, you can get advice from a licensed provider for free through Byte.
Byte also used their labs and 3D printers to make face shields and ventilators for healthcare workers, and they are sending PPE to hospitals, grocery stores, and care facilities around the country.
Teledentistry is one of the industries benefiting from COVID stay-home restrictions, by offering a 100% remote way to straighten your teeth while you shelter in place. Byte, in particular, is doing exceptionally well, thanks to their partnership with licensed doctors, their affordable plan, and short treatment time. Plus, many patients appreciate the dedication they’ve shown to help people get access to care, as well as keeping healthcare workers safe during the pandemic.
