Aftercare
Aftercare for Picasso patients — your complete New Zealand guide
Everything NZ patients need after returning from Picasso Dental Clinic — first week steps, NZ dentist guidance, records to carry, maintenance schedule, and SmileCare warranty use.
NZ patients returning from Picasso Dental Clinic should see a local dentist within 4–6 weeks, comply with any prescribed night guard from night one, register under the SmileCare warranty programme, and maintain 6-monthly hygiene visits; Emax veneers carry a 7-year warranty, Lava/Lava Plus crowns 10 years; warranty and urgent queries via [email protected]; May 2026.
Most of the clinical work is complete by the time you land at Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch. What happens over the following months — how consistently you follow the care instructions, whether you attend the recommended NZ check, whether you wear the night guard — determines how long that work lasts. This page is your practical compass for the return home.
Your first week home
Follow your Picasso discharge sheet exactly. That document is written for your specific treatment, and it takes precedence over general advice.
If you had veneers bonded, eat soft foods for 48–72 hours. Avoid temperature extremes — moving from very hot food to very cold drink in quick succession creates thermal stress on fresh bonding. Some sensitivity in the first 2–3 days is normal as the bonding cement cures and the tooth responds to the preparation; take any analgesics the clinic prescribed rather than waiting it out.
If you had implant surgery, maintain a soft diet for the period specified in your discharge notes, avoid straws, do not spit forcefully, and continue the prescribed antibiotics and mouth rinses to the end of the course. Sleep with your head slightly elevated if there is post-surgical swelling — extra pillows are enough.
If anything concerns you — unexpected pain, a high bite, swelling that is increasing rather than reducing — photograph it and send the photo to the Picasso coordinator at [email protected] before making any local decisions. Coordinators can advise remotely, and early contact creates a documented record that is useful for any future warranty query.
Your first month home
Book a NZ dentist appointment within 4–6 weeks. This is not optional — it is the single most important aftercare step. The appointment should cover:
- Bite alignment check. A high spot that felt minor in the clinic chair can become a fracture risk or a cause of jaw pain over weeks.
- Professional hygiene clean. Brief the hygienist on what materials were used and where — they need to select instruments that will not scratch porcelain glaze.
- Review of your Picasso records. A dentist who understands what was done can monitor for early signs of margin decay, gum recession, or peri-implant inflammation.
Register your SmileCare warranty by emailing [email protected] with your patient name, treatment date, and booking reference. Warranty registration is worth doing even if everything feels perfect — it establishes the formal record if a claim is needed later.
Finding a New Zealand dentist who understands overseas work
Not all NZ dentists are comfortable treating patients who have had significant dental work overseas, and some will refuse to engage with the records at all. This is frustrating but understandable — they are taking on clinical responsibility for work they did not do.
What to look for in a NZ dentist willing to maintain overseas work:
- They will review your records and take new X-rays if clinically indicated, rather than insisting on redoing everything.
- They will provide a treatment plan for ongoing care — not a condemnation of the overseas treatment.
- They will not refuse to maintain an implant simply because it was placed overseas, provided you can supply the brand and system information.
- They will communicate with Picasso directly if a clinical question arises.
Ask when booking: “I had dental work overseas and need a dentist who is comfortable maintaining it — is that something your practice does?” A straightforward yes or honest referral saves everyone time.
Records to hand your NZ dentist
Picasso provides these as standard at discharge. If anything is missing, request it from [email protected] before your first NZ appointment.
- OPG and/or CBCT files in DICOM format (can be provided on USB or cloud link)
- Implant passport: brand, fixture diameter and length, system code, lot number
- Shade record: veneer or crown material (Emax Press, Lava, Zirconia) and shade code
- Treatment summary noting what was done and when
- SmileCare warranty document showing coverage period and exclusions
- Night guard if one was fitted at the clinic
- Emergency contact: [email protected]
Long-term maintenance schedule
| Timeframe | What to do |
|---|---|
| 4–6 weeks post-return | NZ dentist: bite check, hygiene clean, records review |
| Every 6 months | Professional hygiene clean; brief hygienist on materials and implant brands |
| Every 12 months | Dentist check; consider OPG to monitor bone levels if implants were placed |
| Before warranty expires | Check restorations for any defects while warranty covers them — do not wait until the last year |
| Night guard | Every night, from night one of returning home |
Using your Picasso warranty — when and how
The SmileCare programme covers manufacturing defects and clinical workmanship failures under normal use conditions. To start a claim:
- Photograph the issue clearly in natural light from multiple angles.
- Email [email protected] with your patient name, booking reference, date of treatment, description of the issue, and the photos.
- Obtain a brief written note from your NZ dentist describing what they observe — Picasso’s clinical team will review this alongside your photos.
- Picasso responds within 1–2 business days with a determination and next steps.
Warranty periods: Emax Press veneers — 7 years. Lava and Lava Plus crowns — 10 years. Composite veneers — 6 months.
Warranty does not cover: trauma or accidental damage, failure to wear a prescribed night guard, damage caused by biting hard non-food objects, or restorations modified by a third party without Picasso’s approval.
For the full terms and the travel reimbursement policy for warranty returns, see /warranty/.
Aftercare guides by treatment
Each of the pages below covers one area in clinical detail:
- Veneer care tips — daily maintenance after Picasso treatment
- How long do porcelain veneers last — realistic lifespan guide
- Chipped or loose veneer — what to do in New Zealand
- Dental implant aftercare — what NZ patients need to do after returning home
- Night guards and bruxism — protecting veneers and implants
Next step
If you have a warranty question or an urgent clinical concern, contact [email protected]. For a non-urgent question about follow-up care, the /contact/ page has all options. If something has gone wrong and you are unsure of the path forward, /safety/what-if-something-goes-wrong/ walks through the decision tree clearly.
- Chipped or loose veneer — what to do in New Zealand
- Dental implant aftercare — what NZ patients need to do after returning home
- How long do porcelain veneers last — realistic lifespan guide
- Night guards and bruxism — protecting veneers and implants
- Veneer care tips — daily maintenance after Picasso treatment
About this page
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Emily Nguyen
Founding Clinical Director, Picasso Dental Clinic
DDS · Founder and Clinical Director, Picasso Dental Clinic group
Clinical focus: Cosmetic dentistry · Veneers · Smile design
Dr. Emily Nguyen founded Picasso Dental Clinic in 2013 (originally Serenity International Dental Clinic) and led its 2023 rebrand. She sets clinical standards across the group's six branches in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Lat, and personally reviews cosmetic protocols including the Portrait Sitting workflow for veneers and smile makeovers.
Frequently asked questions
How soon should I see a NZ dentist after returning from Picasso?
Book within 4–6 weeks of returning. The appointment should include a bite check, a hygiene clean, and a review of any records you brought from Picasso. If something feels wrong sooner — sensitivity, a high bite, loose feeling — book immediately and email Picasso at the same time.
What records should I bring from Picasso to my NZ dentist?
Bring: your OPG or CBCT files (DICOM format on USB or cloud link), the implant passport if implants were placed (brand, fixture diameter, length, lot number), the shade record for veneers or crowns (material and shade code), the treatment summary, the SmileCare warranty registration form, and your night guard if one was fitted.
What is SmileCare and how do I use it?
SmileCare is Picasso's warranty programme covering manufacturing defects and clinical workmanship failures. To register or start a claim, email [email protected] with your patient name, booking reference, and a brief description. Keep photos of any issue and your treating NZ dentist's notes — both are required for claim assessment.
My NZ dentist seems uncomfortable with overseas dental work. What should I do?
This is not uncommon. Look for a dentist who will review your records without dismissing the work, take new X-rays if clinically indicated, and provide a maintenance plan. Bring the full Picasso record set — shade records, implant passport, warranty document — so they have everything needed to treat you as a continuing patient. You do not need a dentist who endorses dental tourism; you need one who will maintain your health.
Can my NZ dentist maintain Picasso implants?
Yes. Picasso uses internationally distributed brands — Osstem, ETK, Neodent, SIC, Nobel Biocare, and Straumann — which all have components available through NZ dental suppliers. Provide your implant passport at every maintenance appointment so the hygienist and dentist know the brand, platform, and system code.
What do the Picasso warranties actually cover?
Emax Press porcelain veneers: 7 years for manufacturing defects and debonding under normal use. Lava and Lava Plus crowns: 10 years. Composite veneers: 6 months. Warranties do not cover trauma, damage from not wearing a prescribed night guard, or work carried out by a third party without Picasso's prior agreement.
What if I have an emergency — like a veneer that has come off — and I cannot get to Vietnam?
Email Picasso at [email protected] with a photo immediately. A NZ dentist can often re-cement an intact debonded veneer temporarily, or place temporary dental cement to protect exposed tooth surface. Do not use household adhesives. Picasso can advise remotely on the next step and whether a return trip or local repair is the right path.
Does wearing a night guard really matter for the warranty?
Yes. If a veneer fractures and Picasso determines that the fracture pattern is consistent with bruxism forces — and you were prescribed a guard but did not wear it — the claim may not be approved. The night guard is both a clinical recommendation and a warranty condition.