Patient stories
Trang from Christchurch — 6 Lisi veneers, chosen by a dental hygienist
Real patient story — a 25-34 Christchurch dental hygienist travels to Picasso Dental Clinic for 6 Lisi veneers at the May 2026 NZD price. NZD 4,800 clinical cost.
Trang, 29, a Christchurch dental hygienist, travelled to Picasso Dental Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City for 6 Lisi veneers across her upper front teeth — NZD 4,800 total clinical cost (May 2026 Picasso price list, 1 NZD = 15,000 VND), a single 10-day trip with the design locked at the Portrait Sitting on day 2.
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. Emily Nguyen, Founding Clinical Director.
Trang is in her late twenties, a dental hygienist in Christchurch who spends her working week inches from other people’s enamel. Her own upper front teeth had bothered her for years — two were slightly rotated, one had an old composite edge that kept staining grey, and the overall shade had never matched what she scaled and polished for patients all day. A Christchurch private clinic had quoted her around NZD 13,500 for the front six. She knew exactly what she was looking at on that quote, and she also knew she did not want a budget veneer on her own smile.
She sent us her clinical photos and a full-arch scan she had taken herself. We returned a written, itemised NZD quote within 24 hours: 6 Lisi veneers at NZD 800 per tooth = NZD 4,800 (May 2026 Picasso price list, 1 NZD = 15,000 VND), with a 7-year warranty.
Why a hygienist picked the premium material
Most of our veneer enquiries start with “which is cheapest”. Trang’s started with the opposite question. In the post-trip survey: “I see veneers fail every week — the chalky ones, the opaque ones that look like Tic Tacs. I wasn’t going to put a value option on my own teeth. I wanted the most translucent material we had, and I wanted minimal prep because I still want enamel under there in twenty years.”
The pre-trip conversation was unusually technical, which suited her:
- Material: Lisi, a pressed lithium-disilicate veneer chosen for its optical depth and edge strength. She wanted layered translucency at the incisal third, not a flat monochrome block.
- Preparation: conservative reduction with the two rotated teeth managed by a slightly thicker veneer on one face rather than aggressive grinding. We sent the Turkey teeth explained page so she could see what we were avoiding.
- Recourse: written warranty plus travel reimbursement if a re-do is ever needed, and a New Zealand follow-up care note for her own records.
She booked a 10-day window and flew over on a Saturday.
The 10-day trip
| Day | What happened |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | CHC to SGN via Auckland. Late arrival, hotel check-in near the Thao Dien clinic. |
| Day 2 | Consultation 9:30. Photographs, OPG, iTero scan. Portrait Sitting design in the afternoon — shade mapping, incisal translucency, length, and how to disguise the two rotations without over-prepping. |
| Day 3 | Preparation appointment. 6 upper teeth, conservative reduction. Temporaries fitted and matched to the agreed design. |
| Days 4–7 | Temporaries phase. We asked her to wear them, eat normally, and report bite or speech issues. She returned on day 5 to soften one incisal edge she felt was too square. |
| Day 8 | Final fit. Roughly 3 hours. Bonding, shade verification under daylight, occlusion check, photographs. |
| Day 9 | Review. Polishing and a final occlusion re-check. |
| Day 10 | Fly home, CHC via Singapore. |
The Portrait Sitting was the part she rated highest. “As a hygienist I’m picky about midline and gingival levels. They let me drive that conversation instead of overruling me. I’ve never had that as a patient.”
What it cost end-to-end
| Line item | NZD |
|---|---|
| 6 Lisi veneers (clinical) | 4,800 |
| Consultation + OPG + iTero | included |
| Return flight Christchurch to Ho Chi Minh City | 2,100 |
| Hotel — 10 nights, mid-range | 1,050 |
| Food and local transport | 550 |
| Total | 8,500 |
Against the NZD 12,000 to 15,000 a Christchurch private clinic had quoted for the same six teeth, the gross saving was NZD 7,200 to 10,200, and the net saving after travel was NZD 3,500 to 6,500. She used a week of annual leave that overlapped two weekends.
The thing she didn’t expect
In her words: “I assumed that knowing the clinical side would make me a difficult patient and that they’d resent the questions. The opposite happened — the lab tech actually walked me through the press cycle and the staining map for my case. I left understanding my own veneers better than some of the cases I assist on at home. I didn’t expect to be treated as a colleague.”
We have started offering that lab walkthrough to any patient who asks. Real patient stories like this one are how we find what people actually value.
What aftercare looked like back in Christchurch
Trang booked her own occlusion check before she flew, so it was confirmed for two weeks after landing. Her reviewing dentist signed off the bite, and we added their note to her file. Because she works in dentistry, she manages her own maintenance — but she still keeps a written record of the material and warranty terms in case she ever moves practices.
Her first 6-month check was clean. The 12-month review is scheduled.
Trang’s three pieces of advice
From her survey response:
- “Don’t let price talk you into the lowest material on your own front teeth. The gap between a budget veneer and a premium one shows up in the light, and it’s the part everyone sees.”
- “Bring your clinical opinion to the Portrait Sitting if you have one — but be specific. I came with exact notes on midline and edge shape, and that’s why the result is mine and not a template.”
- “Wear the temporaries seriously for the full few days. That’s your test drive. I changed one edge because of it, and I’m glad I did rather than living with it for seven years.”
See also
- Veneers pillar — the protocol, materials, and NZD pricing.
- How long do veneers last — longevity by material, including Lisi.
- Christchurch to Vietnam dental travel page — local benchmark and route logistics.
Request your own free NZD veneer quote
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
Is Trang a real patient?
Yes. Trang 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 6 veneers cost in NZD?
6 Lisi veneers at NZD 800 per tooth = NZD 4,800 total clinical cost (May 2026 Picasso price list, 1 NZD = 15,000 VND). This excludes flights, accommodation, food, and any pre-trip work.
Why did a dental hygienist choose Lisi over a cheaper veneer?
Trang works chairside every day and wanted the most translucent lithium disilicate option for her own front teeth. Lisi is a premium pressed lithium-disilicate veneer; she traded a lower price point for the optical depth and edge strength she sees hold up best in clinic.
What warranty applies to Lisi veneers?
7-year warranty on Lisi veneers from Picasso. The manufacturer warranty applies in parallel. Cover is for fracture or debonding not caused by trauma or untreated bruxism. See the full /warranty/ page for tier-by-tier terms.