Patient stories
Mike from Christchurch — single Nobel Biocare implant for a missing second molar
Real patient story — a 52-year-old Christchurch electrician travels to Picasso Dental Clinic in Da Nang for a single Nobel Biocare implant. NZD 2,720 fixture + crown, two trips, 6-month osseointegration.
Mike, 52, a Christchurch electrician, travelled twice to Picasso Dental Clinic in Da Nang for a single Nobel Biocare implant replacing a lower right second molar — NZD 2,720 total for fixture, abutment, and zirconia crown (May 2026 Picasso price list), 6-month osseointegration window, with a small sinus floor lift performed at the first visit.
Real patient story, shared with permission. This patient has consented to Picasso Dental Clinic publishing their experience to help other New Zealand patients. Treatment, material, NZD price, and timeline are accurate to the case archive. Reviewed by Dr. Tran Thanh Phong, Head of Implantology.
Mike is 52, a Christchurch electrician, married with two adult kids. He had lost a lower right second molar six years earlier and never replaced it. The neighbouring teeth had started to drift and his bite was changing.
A Christchurch private clinic had quoted him NZD 6,800 for a Straumann implant with a zirconia crown. He had researched cheaper Vietnam options the previous year and dismissed it. What changed his mind was the /safety/implant-brands/ page where we publish the brands we use and the warranty terms.
The first quote conversation
He sent a panoramic X-ray (OPG) from his Christchurch GP referral and four smile photographs. We returned a written, itemised NZD quote within 24 hours:
| Line item | NZD |
|---|---|
| Nobel Biocare implant (fixture + abutment + zirconia crown) | 2,720 |
| Sinus floor lift (minor, lateral approach) | 600 |
| Total clinical cost | 3,320 |
The sinus lift was flagged from the OPG. We needed CBCT confirmation on arrival to confirm whether a lateral or osteotome lift would be appropriate — that detail could not be finalised until in-person imaging.
He also asked specifically about Straumann vs Nobel Biocare. Both are at the same price tier in our list (NZD 2,720 for the fixture + abutment + crown package). We sent him both manufacturer-warranty documents in advance. He chose Nobel Biocare.
The two trips
Trip 1 — surgery (8 days)
| Day | What happened |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | CHC to DAD via Auckland and Singapore. 27 hours total. |
| Day 2 | Consultation, CBCT 3D scan, confirmation that a lateral sinus lift was needed. Surgery scheduled day 3. |
| Day 3 | Implant surgery and sinus lift, 2 hours under local anaesthetic with mild sedation. Healing cap placed. Post-op instructions and pain pack. |
| Day 4 | Post-op review. Mild swelling, on schedule. |
| Days 5–7 | Recovery time. Soft food only, gentle activity. No alcohol. He spent most of this time at the hotel, walked the Da Nang beachfront in the mornings. |
| Day 8 | Final post-op check. Cleared to fly. Wound healing on track. |
Six-month osseointegration window
He returned to Christchurch and resumed normal life. We sent a 6-week remote check-in and a 3-month check-in. His local GP signed off the healing at week 8.
Trip 2 — final crown (5 days)
| Day | What happened |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | CHC to DAD. Arrival evening. |
| Day 2 | iTero digital impression. CBCT confirmation of full osseointegration. |
| Day 3 | Temporary crown placed for bite verification. |
| Day 4 | Final zirconia crown bonded. Occlusion check. Photographs. Implant passport supplied. |
| Day 5 | Final review, then fly home. |
What it cost end-to-end
| Line item | NZD |
|---|---|
| Clinical (both trips combined) | 3,320 |
| Flights (2 return trips, off-peak) | 3,400 |
| Accommodation (8 + 5 nights mid-range) | 1,300 |
| Food and local transport | 750 |
| Total | 8,770 |
Against the Christchurch quote of NZD 6,800, the absolute cost was higher by NZD 1,970 because of two return flights. He chose Picasso anyway for two reasons: Nobel Biocare at the same price as the local Straumann quote, and a sinus lift cost (NZD 600) that the Christchurch clinic had not included in the original NZD 6,800.
Including the sinus lift the Christchurch total would have been closer to NZD 8,400, putting Picasso roughly NZD 400 more expensive after travel. He chose Picasso for the brand confidence, the implant passport, and the option to combine trip 2 with a Vietnam holiday for his wife and him.
The thing he didn’t expect
From his survey: “I expected the surgery day to be the worst part. It wasn’t. The post-op flight home a week later was the worst part — pressure changes on the sinus lift side were uncomfortable for an hour during descent. Nobody had explained that might happen. The pain medication I had on hand sorted it.”
We have added this to the post-op pack for any patient travelling within 14 days of a sinus lift.
What aftercare looked like back in Christchurch
He had a routine check at his Christchurch dentist 8 weeks after the final crown. We sent a written aftercare summary and the implant passport (Nobel Biocare lot number, batch, fixture type). The Kiwi dentist reviewed the occlusion and added the implant to his file.
12-month review by Christchurch dentist — clean. 24-month review scheduled.
Mike’s three pieces of advice
- “Pay for travel insurance. I bought the cheapest one available and would not do that again. A real medical-cover policy is small money compared to the trip total.”
- “Take the implant passport home. My Christchurch dentist asked for it at the first check-up. Knowing the lot number and brand mattered to him.”
- “Plan trip 2 as a holiday with your partner. We made a real trip out of it — coastal time in Hoi An, ate well, came home rested. Treat the second visit as a holiday with a dental appointment, not the other way around.”
See also
- Dental implants pillar — the protocol, brands, and NZD pricing.
- Implant brand transparency — which fixtures we use and why.
- Implant aftercare — what Mike was told for home maintenance.
- Christchurch to Vietnam dental travel page — local benchmark and route logistics.
Request your own free NZD implant quote
About this page
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Tran Thanh Phong
Head of Implantology, Picasso Dental Clinic
DDS · 25+ years in practice · 15,000+ implants placed · 1,000+ All-on-4 cases
Clinical focus: Implantology · All-on-4 · Zygomatic implants
Dr. Tran Thanh Phong has practised since 2001 and leads implantology across the Picasso group. He was the first Vietnamese dentist to perform All-on-4 immediate loading (2010), placed over 15,000 implants across his career at roughly 600 per year, and has completed 400+ zygomatic implant cases since 2017. Loma Linda University-trained (2010). Clinical representative for Nobel Biocare in Vietnam since 2007.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mike a real patient?
Yes. Mike is a real Picasso Dental Clinic patient who has given written permission for us to share their experience with other New Zealand patients considering treatment. Treatment, material/brand, NZD price, and timeline are accurate to the case archive.
What did the single Nobel Biocare implant cost?
NZD 2,720 total — covering fixture, abutment, and zirconia crown (May 2026 Picasso price list at 1 NZD = 15,000 VND). The sinus lift was an additional NZD 600. Total clinical cost NZD 3,320.
Why two trips?
Single implants in the molar region usually require 4 to 6 months of osseointegration before the final crown can be placed. Mike chose the staged route — surgery and temporary at trip 1, final crown at trip 2. Same-trip immediate crown is possible in select cases but not for posterior molars with minor bone augmentation.
What warranty applies to Nobel Biocare implants at Picasso?
Manufacturer warranty from Nobel Biocare applies in parallel with the Picasso 7-year clinical warranty. We supply the implant passport (lot number, batch, brand) so any future dentist can verify the fixture brand. See /safety/implant-brands/ for full transparency.