Byte was one of the most well-known clear aligner brands around. They served millions of patients in the U.S. before expanding to Australia, where they gained popularity for their affordability and convenience. Then, everything came crashing down—their parent company (Dentsply Sirona) announced they were bringing Byte sales to a screeching halt. It left many current and prospective customers with the lingering question: “what happened to Byte?”

While it might seem like a sudden development, there’s a complicated history of sales figures, business decisions, and government regulations to untangle. Fortunately, we’re here to do it for you.

Did Byte Shut Down?

This is a tricky question. Technically, they didn’t. The company still exists, and they’re still serving existing customers. However, they’re not taking on any new ones, and it’s unclear if they ever will.

Dentspy Sirona says they want to leave the door open for Byte to restart their sales, but we don’t know how or when that might happen. In fact, in an earnings call with investors, executives admitted that they’ve already been laying off Byte employees. On top of that, they’ve ceased all marketing and started restructuring the brand’s assets.

That might not look promising, but Byte is still hanging in there. However, getting off the ground again isn’t as simple as restarting business operations. It’s important to understand the legal and regulatory backdrop behind Byte’s current situation.

So What Happened to Byte?

There were multiple factors that contributed to Byte’s struggles—not just sales performance, but the at-home clear aligner model at large. Here’s a breakdown.

A Government Investigation

To really understand the situation, you need some context on a couple of U.S. organizations. The first is the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO). They took issue with at-home aligners from the start. Clear aligner treatment without in-person care, they said, just isn’t fully safe, and can potentially lead to complications or unexpected treatment outcomes—and we agree.

So in September 2024, the AAO asked its members to document and submit every case of adverse effects their patients experienced from at-home aligner treatment. They received thousands of reports, and issued a statement that 77% of their members have seen patients who needed retreatment after using at-home aligners like Byte.

The second organization to know is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a U.S. government entity that regulates products and treatments related to public health. The AAO sent their report to the FDA, who opened an investigation into Byte’s practices. Under this intense scrutiny, Dentsply thought it best to temporarily cease new sales, both in the US and in Australia.

Declining Sales

Declining profits are never desirable, and Dentsply cited this as the other main reason for halting Byte sales. According to their CFO, Byte’s sales “declined 7% year-over-year and 19% sequentially, primarily due to lower conversion rates and other adverse impacts from legislative challenges in certain states.”

Essentially, certain U.S. states have begun requiring at-home aligner companies to provide proof that their patients had a pre-treatment dental exam and X-rays. Byte recommended these things, but didn’t require them. However, it’s crucial that patients get examined—dentists may find underlying conditions that could negatively affect treatment, or they might even determine that certain patients aren’t viable candidates for clear aligner treatment. Either way, these states’ requirements may have caused some patients to look elsewhere for treatment.

The Real Issue with At-Home Aligners: Patient Evaluation

Many of Byte’s problems seem to stem from their patient evaluation practices—the process they use to determine whether someone is a good candidate for treatment. Most patients who use at-home aligner treatments will complete this process 100% at home, with no in-person exams. The company sends an impression kit, which the patient uses to make molds of their teeth, then sends back for the company’s dental team to review.

This might seem convenient, but the problem is that dental molds don’t provide a complete view of a patient’s oral health. They can’t detect conditions like gum disease or skeletal issues that would significantly affect the treatment. Plus, taking accurate dental molds takes a lot of training, and the average person isn’t as skilled or experienced with the procedure as dentists or dental hygienists. Even slightly inaccurate molds might lead to inefficient or unexpected dental shifts.

There’s simply no substitute for hands-on care. That’s why having an in-person dental scan and X-rays is essential before starting clear aligner treatment. It appears that U.S. health organizations are cracking down on inadequate pre-treatment evaluations, and at-home aligner companies are seeing the consequences. It is notable that the Australian Society of Orthodontists has called for AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) to provide clear guidance and warnings to the Australian public and dental providers regarding direct-to-consumer clear aligner products.

What About Current Byte Customers?

Patients who are in the middle of Byte treatment can continue like they normally would. The company said that patients can keep following their treatment plan, and support is still available via the Patient Account Center or the Byte app.

However, in a message on their website the company said Byte patients who have “known active periodontal disease, severe open bite, severe overjet, tooth malocclusion requiring surgical correction, mixed dentition, have dental prosthetics or dental implants, or are an adolescent with a skeletally narrow jaw,” should stop treatment immediately. They also recommended that these patients visit a dentist for an examination.

Potential patients who completed an impression kit and received a treatment plan, but didn’t start treatment, will need to look elsewhere for their clear aligners. Fortunately, there are a few safe and reliable Byte alternatives available in Australia.

Safe Byte Alternatives

Byte might be on hiatus, but that doesn’t mean you have to go without clear aligners. In fact, there are several safer and more versatile solutions out there—ones that include in-person treatment from a dentist or orthodontist. Here are a few:

1. Linea

   For anyone who likes the convenience of remote oversight, but wants the safety and reassurance of hands-on care from a local dentist, Linea could be the perfect option. Our treatments start with two office visits where a local dentist can examine your teeth, apply attachments to improve tooth movement, and answer any questions. Then, they’ll oversee your progress remotely, scheduling additional appointments if necessary. So you get the intensive care you might typically associate with Invisalign, but often for thousands less.

2. Invisalign

   They’re the largest and most well-known clear aligner brand—and also one of the most powerful. Invisalign treatment involves office visits every few weeks throughout treatment, and might cost up to $12,000, but their aligners can also handle a wide range of dental and jaw misalignments. If you’re someone who wants routine in-person oversight, and doesn’t mind paying more for it, Invisalign might be worth a look.

3. Spark

   Created by Ormco—a multinational orthodontic supplies manufacturer—Spark started in Australia, and it’s the second-most popular clear aligner brand in the country. The company uses a proprietary TruGEN material, which they claim is highly invisible and comfortable. They typically require office visits throughout treatment, and like Linea and Invisalign, they can incorporate buttons, elastics, and other attachments to handle complex misalignments.

Final Thoughts

Byte’s situation is unfortunate, but it also highlights a major shortcoming of fully remote aligner brands. In-person exams and X-rays are critical for safe and effective treatment, as emphasized by both U.S. and Australian health authorities. Without them, the patient might not end up with the results they want—and it might even cause further dental and orthodontic issues. We can’t deny the appeal of at-home treatment, but you can get similar convenience and affordability from a hybrid model like Linea, without potentially sacrificing safety or ideal results.