Authors : Sri Harini Muruganandam, Saravana K Subramanian, Prema Anbarasu, Saravana Dinesh, Dinesh Murugesan, Suresh Nagaral, Mohit Gupta
DOI : 10.5005/jp-journals-10015-2855
Volume : 17
Issue : 7
Year : 2026
Page No : 697-705
Ab s t rac t Aim: The aim of this case report is to evaluate the esthetic effect of two specific orthodontic bracket-bonding interventions—Smile Arc Protection (SAP) bracket positioning and conventional McLaughlin-Bennett-Trevisi (MBT) bracket positioning—on the curvature and consonance of the smile arc in orthodontic patients. Background: A pleasant smile with a consonant smile arc plays a vital role in overall facial esthetics, as a consonant smile arc is widely regarded as more youthful and esthetically pleasing. This case report highlights the importance of the smile arc as a determinant of esthetic outcome and underscores the influence of precise bracket positioning in achieving a harmonious smile. Case description: This article presents two clinical cases illustrating the significance of smile arc preservation in orthodontic treatment. Case 1 describes a 17-year-old female patient with the chief complaint of reduced incisor exposure on smiling with spacing. The case was planned with a treatment approach utilizing SAP bracket positioning, with an overall treatment duration of 12 months and planned retention followups at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year to monitor stability. At the end of treatment, the patient expressed a high level of satisfaction with the improvement in her smile esthetics and overall facial appearance. Case 2 describes a 15-year-old male patient with the chief complaint of spacing in the upper arch, and the case was planned with a conventional treatment approach using the MBT prescription, with an overall treatment duration of 14 months. Retention follow-ups were scheduled at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year to monitor stability. The patient and his parents expressed a high level of satisfaction with both the functional and esthetic outcomes of the treatment. Conclusion: Bracket positioning, particularly in the maxillary anterior region, directly controls the vertical position and curve of the incisal edges, thereby defining whether the final smile arc is consonant, flat, or reverse. This emphasizes that esthetic considerations must be integrated alongside traditional occlusal goals to achieve truly optimal orthodontic treatment results. Clinical significance: Standardized bracket placement alone may not always result in ideal smile esthetics; individualized bracket positioning is typically necessary in specific cases. The consonance of the smile arc can be improved by making minor vertical adjustments to the maxillary anterior bracket height. Orthodontists should move beyond occlusal indices and prioritize dynamic soft-tissue harmony when evaluating treatment outcomes. Keywords: Buccal corridor, Case report, Consonant smile arc, McLaughlin-Bennett-Trevisi, Nonconsonant smile arc, Smile arc protection, Smile arc, Torque of anterior teeth.