Objective To compare the application effects of minimally invasive resin filling and conventional resin filling in the aesthetic restoration of anterior teeth in children. Methods A total of 76 children with anterior teeth defect admitted to our hospital from January to December 2023 were selected as the research subjects, and they were divided into traditional group and minimally invasive group according to the random number table method, with 38 children in each group. The traditional group was restored with traditional resin filling, and the minimally invasive group was restored with minimally invasive resin filling. The pain level, periodontal health, World Dental Federation (FDI) score and complications were compared between the two groups. Results After restoration, the VAS score in the two groups was lower than that before restoration, and that in the minimally invasive group was lower than that in the traditional group (P<0.05). After restoration, the scores of GI and PI in the two groups were lower than those before restoration, and those in the minimally invasive group were lower than those in the traditional group (P<0.05). After restoration, the scores of aesthetics (A), function (F), biology (B) and total score in the two groups were lower than those before restoration, and those in the minimally invasive group were lower than those in the traditional group (P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the minimally invasive group was 5.26%, which was lower than 15.79% in the traditional group (P <0.05). Conclusion The clinical effect of minimally invasive resin filling in the aesthetic restoration of anterior teeth in children is better than that of traditional resin filling, which can reduce children's pain, improve the quality of restoration, maintain the periodontal health, and reduce the occurrence of complications. It is worthy of clinical application.