Objective To explore the effect of layered resin restoration on aesthetic effect in patients with anterior tooth defect. Methods A total of 172 patients with anterior tooth defect admitted to Yunyang Town Qimei Dental Clinic from January to December 2024 were selected. According to different restoration plans, they were divided into the control group and the observation group, with 86 patients in each group. The control group was treated with direct resin bonding restoration, and the observation group was treated with layered resin restoration. The restoration effect, dental function, periodontal health indicators, tooth mobility and aesthetic effect were compared between the two groups. Results The excellent and good rate of restoration in the observation group (97.67%) was higher than that in the control group (89.53%) (P<0.05). At 6 months after restoration, the occlusal force and masticatory efffciency in the observation group were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). At 6 months after restoration, the plaque index, probing depth and bleeding index in the observation group were all lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The tooth mobility in the observation group was better than that in the control group (P<0.05). At 6 months after restoration, the pink esthetic score and white esthetic score in the observation group were all higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Layered resin restoration for anterior tooth defect achieves an ideal restoration effect. It can improve dental function and periodontal health indicators, reduce the risk of tooth mobility, and enhance the aesthetic effect.