Savings calculator
Dental savings calculator — NZ vs Picasso Vietnam
Work out your true all-in dental savings comparing NZ private quotes with Picasso Dental Clinic Vietnam — including flights, accommodation, and time off work.
New Zealand patients comparing dental treatment costs should add their flight, accommodation, lost-wage, and second-trip costs to the Picasso NZD treatment quote, then compare the total against their NZ private quote. The break-even point sits around NZD 4,000 to NZD 5,000 in treatment value — below that, NZ care is usually the better financial choice. Above that, Picasso saves Kiwi patients between 50% and 70% on equivalent treatment using the same brand-name implants and ceramics (Emax, Lava, Straumann, Nobel Biocare, Osstem).
This page exists because the saving on dental tourism is only real after you add the travel, accommodation, and time-off costs. The headline price gap is one thing. The all-in number is what matters.
The break-even rule
Dental tourism starts to pay for itself at roughly NZD 4,000 to NZD 5,000 in treatment value. Below that, flights and time off work usually erase the saving. Above that, the gap stays meaningful even after travel costs.
Cases where the maths typically works:
- 8 or more porcelain veneers
- 3 or more crowns
- A single implant or multiple implants
- All-on-4, All-on-5, or All-on-6 full-arch
- Full-mouth reconstruction
- A smile makeover combining veneers, crowns, or whitening
Cases where the maths rarely works:
- One filling, one clean, one chip
- One small composite repair
- An urgent infection or acute pain
- Single tooth whitening
- Routine 6-month checkups
Calculate your all-in savings
Enter your NZ quote and your Picasso estimate, then adjust the travel and time-off costs to match your trip. Every total updates as you type — nothing is sent anywhere, and the maths runs entirely in your browser.
Prefer pen and paper? The manual worksheet
Fill in the right column with your own numbers, or print this page and work it out by hand.
NZ all-in cost
| Item | Notes | NZD |
|---|---|---|
| NZ private treatment quote | From your NZ dentist | _____ |
| ACC contribution (if applicable) | Subtract if accident-related | − _____ |
| NZ total | _____ |
Picasso Vietnam all-in cost
| Item | Notes | NZD |
|---|---|---|
| Picasso treatment estimate | From your free NZD quote | _____ |
| Return flight | Auckland to Hanoi / HCMC / Da Nang | _____ |
| Accommodation | Nights × room rate | _____ |
| Meals and incidentals | Roughly NZD 50–80/day | _____ |
| Travel insurance | Check elective dental exclusions | _____ |
| Visa (if applicable) | Read visa for Kiwis | _____ |
| Companion travel | If a partner or family member travels | _____ |
| Lost wages | Days off × daily rate | _____ |
| Second trip (if needed) | Implants and All-on-4 often need a second visit | _____ |
| NZ follow-up hygiene | NZD 150–250 per visit | _____ |
| Picasso total | _____ |
The difference
| Calculation | NZD |
|---|---|
| NZ total | _____ |
| Picasso total | − _____ |
| Savings (or extra cost) | _____ |
If the Picasso total is significantly lower, the trip makes financial sense. If the gap is small or negative, stay in New Zealand — the travel isn’t worth it for your case.
Typical worked examples
These are illustrative, not your quote. Use your own numbers.
Example 1 — 10 porcelain veneers from Auckland
| Item | NZ cost | Picasso + travel |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | NZD 22,000 | NZD 6,000 |
| Return flight Auckland–Hanoi | — | NZD 1,800 |
| 7 nights accommodation | — | NZD 840 (NZD 120/night) |
| Meals and incidentals | — | NZD 420 |
| Travel insurance | — | NZD 180 |
| Lost wages (5 days, NZD 280/day) | — | NZD 1,400 |
| Total | NZD 22,000 | NZD 10,640 |
| Savings | NZD 11,360 |
Example 2 — All-on-4 lower arch from Wellington
| Item | NZ cost | Picasso + travel |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment (Nobel Biocare) | NZD 34,000 | NZD 14,667 |
| First trip return flight | — | NZD 2,200 |
| 8 nights accommodation | — | NZD 1,200 |
| Second trip return flight (4 months later) | — | NZD 2,000 |
| 4 nights accommodation (second trip) | — | NZD 600 |
| Meals, insurance, incidentals | — | NZD 900 |
| Lost wages (8 days, NZD 320/day) | — | NZD 2,560 |
| Total | NZD 34,000 | NZD 24,127 |
| Savings | NZD 9,873 |
Example 3 — Single Osstem implant from Christchurch
| Item | NZ cost | Picasso + travel |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment | NZD 7,500 | NZD 1,667 |
| Return flight Christchurch–HCMC | — | NZD 2,400 |
| 5 nights accommodation | — | NZD 600 |
| Meals, insurance, incidentals | — | NZD 350 |
| Lost wages (5 days) | — | NZD 1,400 |
| Total | NZD 7,500 | NZD 6,417 |
| Savings | NZD 1,083 |
The single implant example shows why one implant alone often isn’t worth the trip. The maths flips if you combine it with a few crowns, veneers, or whitening.
Costs people forget
The worksheet above tries to catch everything. Most patients still miss four costs.
Second trip for implants and All-on-4. Most full-arch and many single-implant cases involve a second short trip 4 to 6 months later for the final crown or prosthetic fitting. Budget for it.
Travel insurance gaps. Most NZ travel insurance excludes elective overseas dental treatment and its complications. You may still want a policy for unrelated medical emergencies during the trip — confirm exclusions before relying on it.
Night-guards and aftercare add-ons. New veneers or crowns sometimes need a night-guard. Picasso provides one in some cases; your NZ dentist provides one in others. Budget NZD 350 to NZD 600.
Ongoing NZ hygiene. Your NZ dentist still does six-monthly cleans at standard NZ rates — NZD 150 to NZD 250 per visit. That’s normal maintenance, not an extra cost of going overseas, but plan for it.
What your free quote includes
Skip the worksheet guesswork. Send photos and we’ll come back with:
- Itemised NZD treatment estimate for your specific case
- Recommended Picasso branch (Hanoi, Da Nang, HCMC, or Da Lat)
- Estimated days in Vietnam, including buffer days
- Whether a second trip is likely
- Material and brand options
- Warranty term for each material
- What’s not included so you can add travel costs
NZ city travel planning
City-specific guides include real flight routes, recovery timing, and best-fit Vietnam destinations:
Related reading
- Full cost guide — Vietnam vs NZ side-by-side
- Pricing — every NZD line
- Free NZD quote
- Flights to Vietnam from NZ
- Travel insurance and dental
About this page
Medically reviewed by
Dr. Emily Nguyen, Founding Clinical Director
Clinical Reviewer, Picasso Dental Clinic
Picasso Dental Clinic clinical team
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the savings comparison?
The calculator and worksheet on this page are planning estimates. Final savings depend on your specific case, the brand chosen, whether grafting is needed, current flight prices, and your time off work. Confirm with a free written NZD quote and current flight prices before booking. The break-even point sits around NZD 4,000 to NZD 5,000 in treatment value.
What costs do most Kiwi patients forget to include?
The most commonly forgotten costs are: a second short trip for implant or All-on-4 finals (sometimes 4 to 6 months after the first trip), travel insurance gaps for elective dental, night-guards prescribed for new veneers or crowns, and ongoing NZ hygiene visits at NZD 150 to NZD 250 each. Add these into your total before comparing.
Does ACC reduce the cost difference?
ACC only covers dental injury from a personal accident in New Zealand — not elective cosmetic treatment, not routine maintenance, and not complications from treatment you chose to have overseas. For elective veneers, implants, or All-on-4, ACC plays no role on either side of the comparison.
Where can I find current flight prices?
Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Air New Zealand publish current Auckland-Hanoi, Auckland-Ho Chi Minh City, and Auckland-Da Nang prices. Return economy flights from Auckland typically sit between NZD 1,200 and NZD 2,400 depending on season. The free quote includes a recommended branch — pick flights for that destination.