Objective To explore the effect of self-ligating bracket orthodontic treatment on lip protrusion and facial aesthetic indicators in adolescents with dental crowding. Methods A total of 80 adolescents with dental crowding who were treated in Yancheng No.1 People's Hospital from January 2023 to August 2024 were selected as the research subjects, and they were divided into the control group and the study group by the random number table method, with 40 adolescents in each group. The control group received conventional straight wire bracket orthodontic treatment, and the study group received self-ligating bracket orthodontic treatment. The lip protrusion indicators, facial aesthetic indicators and treatment-related indicators were compared between the two groups. Results After treatment, the levels of ULP, LLP and SLD in the study group were lower than those in the control group, and the level of NLA was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). The facial angle, total facial convexity angle and Z angle in the study group were larger than those in the control group, and the E line-LL was smaller than that in the control group (P<0.05). The average treatment time in the study group was shorter than that in the control group, and the VAS score was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Self-ligating bracket orthodontic treatment can not only improve lip protrusion and facial aesthetics in adolescents with dental crowding, but also effectively shorten the correction period and reduce the degree of pain.