Patient stories
Yen from Christchurch — 8 Emax Press veneers timed with a family reunion
Real patient story — a 20s Christchurch optometrist travels to Picasso Dental Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City for 8 Emax Press veneers. NZD 4,800 clinical cost, single trip, May 2026 prices.
Yen, in her twenties, a Christchurch optometrist, travelled to Picasso Dental Clinic in Ho Chi Minh City for 8 Emax Press veneers across the upper smile zone — NZD 4,800 total clinical cost (May 2026 Picasso price list, 1 NZD = 15,000 VND), an 11-day single trip with the Portrait Sitting design step 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.
Yen is in her twenties, a Christchurch optometrist. She had a family reunion planned in Vietnam and decided to build her veneer treatment around it — the people she most wanted to see her new smile were the same people she was flying over to visit anyway.
She had been quoted between NZD 12,000 and NZD 20,000 for 8 veneers at a Christchurch private clinic. With the reunion already booked, the Picasso quote turned a someday-maybe into a this-trip decision.
What she was weighing up before booking
In her words from the post-trip survey: “I work in healthcare, so I wasn’t going to be talked into anything. I wanted to know exactly what material was going on my teeth, how much enamel they’d remove, and what the warranty actually covered.”
We walked her through the material and the protocol:
- Material: Emax Press, a well-documented lithium disilicate ceramic with a 7-year warranty.
- Preparation: minimal enamel reduction (0.3 to 0.5 mm), keeping as much healthy tooth as possible.
- Recourse: a written warranty, and New Zealand follow-up care guidance for monitoring once she was home.
She booked after the written quote and treatment plan arrived, slotting the appointments around the first few days of the reunion.
The 11-day trip
| Day | What happened |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | CHC to SGN. Arrival, hotel check-in, evening with family. |
| Day 2 | Consultation, photographs, digital scan. Portrait Sitting design session — shade, shape, length, midline. |
| Day 3 | Preparation of 8 upper teeth. Temporaries fitted. |
| Days 4–8 | Temporaries phase — living with the provisional veneers around reunion events, one review visit for a small shape adjustment. |
| Day 9 | Final fit. Bonding, bite check, polish. |
| Day 10 | Review and final photographs. |
| Day 11 | Fly home. |
The temporaries phase mattered more than she expected. “I got to wear the trial smile to a family dinner before anything was permanent. My sister told me the front teeth looked a touch long — I mentioned it at the next visit and they adjusted it. You can’t do that once they’re bonded.”
What it cost end-to-end
| Line item | NZD |
|---|---|
| 8 Emax Press veneers (clinical) | 4,800 |
| Return flight Christchurch to Vietnam | 1,850 |
| Hotel — 11 nights, mid-range | 1,100 |
| Food and local transport | 600 |
| Total | 8,350 |
Against an NZ benchmark of NZD 12,000 to NZD 20,000 for 8 veneers, the gross saving was NZD 7,200 to NZD 15,200, and the net saving after travel was about NZD 4,000 to NZD 11,900. Because she was flying to Vietnam for the reunion regardless, she counted the flights as a sunk cost and viewed the saving as closer to the gross figure.
The thing she didn’t expect
In her words: “I’d braced for the prep day to be uncomfortable and it was completely fine — a bit of pressure, no pain. What caught me off guard was eating with the temporaries. I was nervous to bite into anything for the first day, then realised they were holding fine and relaxed.”
What aftercare looked like back in Christchurch
Yen booked a check with her own Christchurch dentist for a few weeks after returning, arranged before she flew. Her dentist reviewed the bite and the veneer margins and added the records to her file. She keeps the veneers in good shape with normal brushing, flossing, and 6-monthly cleans.
Yen’s three pieces of advice
- “If you’re already travelling, build the treatment around the trip you’d take anyway — the maths changes completely when the flights aren’t a separate cost.”
- “Use the temporaries. Wear them out, eat with them, get a second opinion from someone who knows your face. That’s your window to change things.”
- “Confirm your New Zealand follow-up before you leave. It’s a five-minute booking that takes the worry out of the whole trip.”
See also
- Veneers pillar — the protocol, materials, and NZD pricing.
- Veneer care tips — day-to-day maintenance.
- How long do veneers last — longevity by material.
- 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 Yen a real patient?
Yes. Yen 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 veneers cost in NZD?
8 Emax Press veneers at NZD 600 per tooth = NZD 4,800 total clinical cost (May 2026 Picasso price list, 1 NZD = 15,000 VND). This excludes flights, accommodation, and any pre-trip work.
How long was the trip?
11 days end to end. Day 1 arrival and consultation; day 2 Portrait Sitting design; day 3 preparation and temporaries; days 4 to 8 temporaries phase; day 9 final fit; day 10 review; day 11 fly home.
What warranty applies to Emax Press veneers?
7-year warranty on Emax Press veneers from Picasso. Warranty covers fracture or debonding not caused by trauma or untreated bruxism. See the full /warranty/ page for tier-by-tier terms.