Objective To explore the application effect of visible light-curing composite resin restoration in children with anterior tooth defect. Methods A total of 80 children with anterior tooth defect admitted to Nanchong Hospital of Beijing Anzhen Hospital Afffliated to Capital Medical University from March 2022 to August 2024 were selected as the research subjects, and they were divided into the reference group and the study group by the random number table method, with 40 children in each group. The reference group was treated with glass ionomer cement restoration, and the study group was treated with visible light-curing composite resin restoration. The anterior tooth aesthetic status, plaque index, gingival index and complications were compared between the two groups. Results The excellent and good rates of color matching, surface smoothness, marginal adaptation and shape contour in the study group at 1 year after restoration were higher than those in the reference group (P<0.05). The plaque index and gingival index of the two groups at 1 year after restoration were lower than those before restoration, and those in the study group were lower than those in the reference group (P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the study group (5.00%) was lower than that in the reference group (20.00%) (P<0.05). Conclusion Visible light-curing composite resin restoration for children with anterior tooth defect can effectively improve the aesthetic status of anterior teeth, reduce plaque index and gingival index, and lower the incidence of complications.