Objective To explore the effect of digital impression on zirconia single crown restoration in esthetic zone.Methods A total of 100 patients with zirconia single crown restoration in the esthetic zone admitted to the Affiliated Shunde Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2015 to December 2018 were selected as the research objects and divided into control group and observation group according to random number table method, with 50 cases in each group. The impressions of the observation group were made by digital impression technique. The impressions of the control group were made with silicone rubber by two-step method. The qualities of crowns, the treatment time and the gingival recession rate of abutments were compared between the two groups. Results The marginal adaptation of crowns in the observation group was better than that in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the shape accuracy, surface texture and color between the crowns of two groups (P>0.05). The treatment time of the observation group was shorter than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The gingival recession rate of abutments in the observation group was lower than that of the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion In the zirconia single crown restoration in esthetic zone, the application of digital impression is effective in improving the marginal adaptation of crowns, saving treatment time and reducing the gingival recession rate of abutments, which is worthy of popularization and application.