Objective To compare the long-term effects and postoperative complications of traditional porcelain veneer repair and minimally invasive porcelain veneer repair. Methods The clinical data of 75 patients with anterior dental defects diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 2021 to January 2024 were retrospectively collected. According to different restoration methods, 34 patients receiving traditional porcelain veneer restoration were included in the control group, and 41 patients receiving minimally invasive porcelain veneer restoration were included in the observation group. The prosthetics, dental aesthetics [Pink esthetic score (PES)] and complications of the two groups were measured and compared. Results The success rate of repair in observation group was higher than that in control group, and the failure rate of repair was significantly lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). The PES score of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The complication rate of the observation group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Compared with traditional porcelain veneer repair, minimally invasive porcelain veneer repair for anterior tooth defects can improve the success rate of repair, improve the dental aesthetics of patients, and reduce postoperative complications.