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Dental care at Picasso — a guide for Wellington patients
Practical guide for Wellington patients considering treatment at Picasso Dental Clinic in Vietnam — flights, costs, recovery, and what your visit looks like from Wellington.
Wellington patients visiting Picasso Dental Clinic typically connect via Auckland Airport or Sydney to reach Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, with return economy fares of NZD 1,400 to NZD 2,800, and treatment costs for dental implants from NZD 2,667 versus Wellington private benchmarks of NZD 5,500 to NZD 8,000 per tooth.
Wellington is a city of public servants, professionals, and well-travelled people who are comfortable researching decisions before committing. Patients who contact us from Wellington typically come with questions already prepared — what implant brand do we use, what is included in the price, who will oversee their care. That is exactly the right mindset for planning dental treatment overseas.
This guide covers everything a Wellington patient needs to think through: what similar treatment costs locally, how to reach our clinic from WLG, how long to set aside, and how recovery fits around a professional schedule.
Prices are from the May 2026 Picasso price list (1 NZD = 15,000 VND). Local benchmarks are from the 2026 Wellington dental fee survey. Travel data is from 2026 Wellington logistics research.
Why Wellington patients visit us
Wellington’s private dental market is well-resourced. You can find qualified dentists and good materials locally. The reason patients contact us is not that Wellington dentistry is poor — it is that the cost gap for multi-tooth or full-arch work is large enough to remain meaningful even after adding flights and accommodation.
A Wellington government employee on a standard public service salary considering ten veneers faces a local bill of NZD 14,000 to NZD 25,000. The same treatment at our clinic — same Emax Press material, same ceramic technology — costs NZD 6,000 before travel. For a professional planning ahead, that difference is a reasonable basis for research.
We do not frame this as dental tourism. Patients come to our clinic for treatment. We happen to be located in Vietnam. The decision is a clinical and financial one, not a holiday.
Wellington dental fee context, 2026
All Wellington figures are anonymous ranges from the 2026 Wellington dental fee survey. Picasso prices are converted at 15,000 VND per NZD.
| Treatment | Wellington private benchmark | Picasso (May 2026) | Saving before travel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Nobel/Straumann implant (fixture, abutment, crown) | NZD 5,500–8,000 | NZD 2,667 | NZD 2,833–5,333 |
| 10 Emax Press veneers | NZD 15,000–25,000 | NZD 6,000 | NZD 9,000–19,000 |
| All-on-4 per arch (Nobel/Straumann) | NZD 25,000–42,000 | NZD 14,667 | NZD 10,333–27,333 |
Return economy flights from Wellington typically cost NZD 1,400 to NZD 2,800. Budget NZD 800–1,500 for accommodation for a 10-day visit. Total travel overhead of NZD 2,200–4,300 still leaves a clear saving on the treatments above.
Getting from Wellington to our clinic
Wellington Airport (WLG) does not offer direct routes to Vietnam. All itineraries require at least one connection. The two main options are via Auckland and via Sydney or another Australian hub.
| Route | Typical airlines | Return economy (2026) | Total travel time |
|---|---|---|---|
| WLG–AKL then AKL–SGN or AKL–HAN | Air New Zealand + Vietnam Airlines / Jetstar / Singapore Airlines | NZD 1,400–2,500 | 16–20 hours door-to-door |
| WLG–SYD then SYD–SGN or SYD–HAN | Jetstar / Vietnam Airlines / Scoot | NZD 1,600–2,800 | 18–22 hours door-to-door |
The Auckland connection is usually the simpler option for Wellington passengers — Air New Zealand operates frequent WLG–AKL services, and AKL has the most Vietnam route options. The Sydney routing adds time but can offer better fares on some dates.
We are based in both Hanoi (HAN) and Ho Chi Minh City (SGN). Either city is a reasonable destination. Many Wellington patients choose Ho Chi Minh City for its warmer climate and range of accommodation options; Hanoi is the location of our flagship branch and a quieter base for patients who want to rest between appointments.
How long Wellington patients typically stay
Treatment type determines trip length. Below is the standard planning guide we share with all patients before they book.
| Treatment type | Clinic days needed | Recommended stay | Trip structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6–10 porcelain veneers | 3–4 | 7–10 days | Single trip |
| Crowns (3–6 units) | 2–3 | 7–10 days | Single trip |
| Root canal + crown | 2 | 5–7 days | Single trip |
| Single implant (Nobel/Straumann) | 2 | First trip: 4–5 days. Second trip (crown fit): 4–5 days | Two trips, 3–6 months apart |
| All-on-4 (both arches) | 3–4 | First trip: 5–7 days. Second trip (final prosthesis): 5–7 days | Two trips, 3–6 months apart |
| Full smile makeover (veneers + implants) | 5–7 | 10–14 days | Single extended trip or two trips |
For Wellington patients combining veneers with one or two implants in a single visit, we typically recommend 10–12 days. The implant fixtures are placed on day one or two and left to integrate; veneer and crown work proceeds during the same stay so patients maximise the trip.
Recovery planning for Wellington professionals
Most Wellington patients return to desk work within 24–48 hours of their final appointment. This applies to veneer and crown completions, which involve no surgery. There is mild sensitivity for 24–72 hours after preparation appointments — manageable with over-the-counter pain relief and not disruptive to office-based work.
Implant surgery is more substantive. We recommend 48 hours of rest after placement, avoiding strenuous activity. Swelling typically resolves within 3–5 days. The vast majority of our patients with white-collar professional roles fly home with their implants placed and return to their desks within a week of landing back in Wellington.
For patients in roles that involve public speaking or client-facing presentations, we plan temporary restorations carefully. Temps are fitted and polished before you leave the clinic. You will not return to Wellington with obvious gaps or visible work-in-progress.
The return flight is typically scheduled as the last day of the stay or the day after final treatment. Long-haul flying after veneer or crown work carries no clinical risk. After implant surgery, we recommend waiting at least five days before flying home.
What your visit looks like
This is the standard schedule for a Wellington patient visiting for 10 Emax Press veneers — the most common treatment type we see from Wellington.
| Day | Activity |
|---|---|
| Day 1 (arrival) | Fly Wellington–Auckland–Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Check in to accommodation. Rest. |
| Day 2 | Welcome consultation, full examination, OPG and digital scan, shade selection, treatment plan confirmation. |
| Day 3 | Tooth preparation (0.3–0.5mm reduction for Emax Press). Temporaries fitted same session. |
| Day 4 | Rest day. Mild sensitivity expected. Free to explore at a relaxed pace. |
| Day 5 | Check-in: temporary fit and bite adjustment if needed. |
| Day 6–7 | Free days while ceramics are fabricated in our on-site lab. |
| Day 8 | Final veneer try-in. Shade and shape approved. |
| Day 9 | Final bond and polish. Occlusion checked. Care instructions provided. |
| Day 10 | Fly home to Wellington. |
Patients are not occupied every day. The schedule is designed to allow genuine rest, which is important for managing sensitivity and arriving home feeling recovered rather than exhausted.
Currency and payment
We provide all quotes in NZD before you travel. Once on-site, treatment is invoiced in Vietnamese Dong (VND). Visa and Mastercard are accepted at all branches. Bank transfer is also available.
The NZD/VND rate fluctuates. Our quotes use the rate at the time of quoting. We recommend budgeting a small buffer (3–5%) for rate movement between quote and payment.
Cash in VND is accepted and is sometimes preferred for smaller additional items such as a take-home whitening kit or a mouthguard. ATMs are accessible throughout Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Preparing your records
Send these to us before you travel. They allow us to finalise your treatment plan and confirm pricing before you book flights.
- OPG (panoramic X-ray) — your Wellington dentist can provide this, or we can take one on arrival
- Periapical X-rays of any specific teeth if you have them
- Photographs: full-face smile, upper arch, lower arch, left and right profile
- Any quotes or treatment plans from your Wellington dentist
- List of current medications and any relevant medical history
- Confirmation of any allergies, especially to local anaesthetics or metals
If you do not have recent X-rays, send photos and a description of your concerns. We will advise whether we need imaging before quoting or whether we can provide a conditional estimate.
How to start
Email [email protected]. Include photos of your teeth, a brief description of what you are hoping to achieve, and any X-rays you have. We will review your case and return an itemised NZD estimate — broken down by procedure, material, and brand — before you book anything.
There is no obligation and no fee for the initial assessment.
Next step
Free NZD quote · Dental implants Wellington · Veneers Wellington · Is it safe?
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 do Wellington patients get to Picasso Dental Clinic?
Wellington patients fly via Auckland (WLG–AKL, 1 hour) or Sydney (WLG–SYD, 3 hours) then onward to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Total door-to-door travel is approximately 16–22 hours. Return economy fares range from NZD 1,400 to NZD 2,800.
How much do Wellington patients typically save at Picasso?
For a single Nobel/Straumann implant: NZD 2,833 to NZD 5,333 per tooth before flights. For 10 Emax veneers: NZD 9,000–19,000 before flights. For All-on-4 per arch: NZD 10,333–27,333 before flights.
How long should Wellington patients plan to stay?
Veneer and crown cases: 7–10 days (single trip). Implant cases: two trips of 4–7 days each, 3–6 months apart.
When is the best time for Wellington patients to travel?
April to June and September to October — Vietnam shoulder season, outside Wellington peak-leave periods.
Can Wellington patients get a quote before flying?
Yes. Send photos, OPG, and your treatment description to [email protected]. Picasso returns an itemised NZD estimate before you book flights.