Objective To analyze the effect of orthodontic treatment before restoration on aesthetics in patients with dental malocclusion. Methods A total of 110 patients with dental malocclusion who received treatment in the Department of Stomatology of our hospital from February 2023 to June 2024 were selected. According to the random number table method, they were divided into the control group and the observation group, with 55 patients in each group. The control group received conventional restoration treatment, and the observation group received orthodontic treatment before restoration. The clinical efficacy, aesthetics, occlusal function, oral function indexes and adverse reactions were compared between the two groups. Results The total effective rate of treatment in the observation group (94.55%) was higher than that in the control group (81.82%) (P <0.05). After treatment, the aesthetics score in the two groups was higher than that before treatment, and that in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, the occlusal function score in the two groups was higher than that before treatment, and that in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P <0.05). After treatment, the DHI score in the two groups was lower than that before treatment, and the masticatory efficiency was higher than that before treatment. Moreover, the DHI score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group, and the masticatory efficiency was higher than that in the control group (P <0.05). The incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group (3.64%) was lower than that in the control group (14.55%) (P <0.05). Conclusion Performing orthodontic treatment before the restoration of dental malocclusion can improve the effect of oral restoration treatment, enhance the oral aesthetics and occlusal function of patients, and reduce the incidence of adverse reactions.