Smile makeover in Vietnam for New Zealand patients

A smile makeover is not a single procedure. It is a coordinated plan that may combine teeth whitening, composite bonding, porcelain veneers, crowns, and — in more complex cases — orthodontic alignment or implants. The combination is defined by your mouth, not by a package menu.

New Zealand patients who need 8 to 10 porcelain veneers can save NZD 9,000 to NZD 19,000 before flights and accommodation compared with indicative private fees at home. At that scale, the economics of a week in Vietnam are straightforward. At smaller scale — one or two teeth — they are not.

What a smile makeover includes

A smile makeover is not a treatment; it is a plan. The components within that plan are separate clinical procedures, each chosen because of a specific tooth condition or aesthetic goal. The most common components are:

Teeth whitening — almost always the starting point when natural teeth will remain visible in the smile alongside ceramics. Whitening establishes the shade baseline. The veneers or crowns are then colour-matched to the whitened natural teeth rather than to an old, darker reference point.

Composite veneers — resin restorations applied directly to tooth surfaces. Conservative, low cost, useful for small aesthetic changes or budget-constrained cases. Shorter lifespan and lower stain resistance than porcelain.

Porcelain veneers — thin ceramic shells bonded to the front surface of healthy teeth. Emax Press is the most common material for full smile makeovers. Non-prep Emax suits specific cases where enamel can be fully preserved. Lisi porcelain is the premium tier for the finest shade and translucency work.

Dental crowns — full-coverage restorations for teeth that are too damaged, cracked, or structurally weakened for a veneer. In a smile makeover, damaged front or premolar teeth may need crowns while adjacent healthy teeth receive veneers. Emax and Zirconia are the most common crown materials in cosmetic cases.

Implants — when gaps exist from missing teeth and form part of the visible smile. Implant placement and healing add months to the treatment timeline and require a separate trip. See dental implants for the full process.

Orthodontics — when alignment issues are significant enough that straightening first would preserve more tooth structure and produce a better veneer result. Invisalign or braces are planned before veneers, not alongside them. Dr. Thuan Phung, our orthodontist with over 10 years and 1,500+ cases, co-plans these combined treatments.

Each component is priced separately and listed individually on the written treatment plan.

Our smile makeover component prices — May 2026

Prices below are from the May 2026 Picasso price list, converted at 1 NZD = 15,000 VND. Each price is per tooth or per session as noted, and includes the treatment, material, and applicable visit.

See the full itemised pricing list for every treatment line.

For the full New Zealand-vs-Vietnam breakdown with city-by-city benchmarks, see our smile makeover cost guide.

Example packages — NZ vs Picasso comparison

These three package builds show how components combine at different budgets. They are examples, not fixed offers — your written plan may use different tooth counts, materials, or sequencing.

The New Zealand ranges are planning benchmarks based on indicative private fees, not a promise about any specific Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or Hamilton clinic. Flights from Auckland return approximately NZD 1,200 to NZD 1,800; a week of accommodation in Hanoi or Da Nang approximately NZD 700 to NZD 1,400. At standard and premium scale, the indicative saving covers travel costs and remains substantially positive.

For a case-specific NZD cost model, request a free written quote using photos.

How the treatment plan is designed

Before any tooth is touched, the cosmetic team builds a written treatment plan based on your photographs, clinical history, and stated goals. The process covers:

• Photography and facial analysis — full smile, retracted front, side profile, close-up of problem areas. These are the working documents for the whole case.
• Smile analysis — smile arc, lip line, midline alignment, gum line position, tooth proportions, and how teeth relate to face shape. The analysis identifies which issues are cosmetic and which are structural.
• Shade matching — if whitening is planned, the target shade is agreed before veneer colour is ordered from the lab. If no whitening is needed, existing tooth colour sets the baseline.
• Per-tooth material decision — each tooth is assessed individually. The plan states which teeth receive composite, which receive porcelain veneer, and which require a crown based on the condition of that tooth.
• Written plan before preparation — the treatment sequence, tooth count, materials, timeline, NZD pricing, and warranty terms are confirmed in writing before any irreversible preparation begins. If you disagree with any element, the plan is revised.

No preparation work begins until the plan is agreed in writing.

The Portrait Sitting protocol

Portrait Sitting is the name Picasso uses for the smile design step that precedes any tooth reduction in a veneer or makeover case. It is the most important checkpoint in a cosmetic treatment plan and the step that prevents the most common overseas cosmetic errors.

The protocol works in three stages:

Photography and analysis — the team photographs your smile, face, and individual teeth at multiple angles and lighting conditions. The photographs are reviewed for smile arc, tooth proportions, midline, gum line, and the relationship between the teeth and the lips. The analysis is documented and shared with you.

Aesthetic discussion and shade agreement — you discuss the desired result: natural versus cosmetic, shade target, tooth length, edge shape, gum-to-tooth ratios. This is not a consultation about which package to choose — it is a clinical design conversation. The agreed result is recorded in writing as the brief for the laboratory.

Temporary veneers — review before commitment — for Emax Press and similar preparations, temporary veneers are placed immediately after tooth preparation. You wear these for several days. If the length, shape, or prominence of any tooth feels wrong, the feedback goes to the lab before the final ceramic is made. The Portrait Sitting protocol is the reason you approve the result before it is permanent.

For the full Portrait Sitting detail, see veneers in detail.

Veneer vs crown — the clinical decision

The split between veneers and crowns in a smile makeover is determined by the existing condition of each tooth, not by aesthetics or patient preference.

A veneer is appropriate when:

• The tooth is structurally sound with no significant decay, cracking, or old large fillings.
• The aesthetic issue is on the front surface — colour, minor shape, wear, or edge chips.
• Enough enamel is present to support a strong bond.

A crown is appropriate when:

• The tooth is heavily broken, cracked, or weakened by large old restorations.
• The tooth has been root-canal treated and is at risk of fracture without full coverage.
• The tooth needs significantly more reconstruction than a veneer surface allows.

In many smile makeovers, the front teeth are healthy and suit veneers, while a damaged premolar or canine alongside them needs a crown. The written plan specifies which treatment applies to which tooth — and explains the clinical reason. Choosing crowns where veneers would be sufficient removes unnecessary healthy tooth structure. Choosing veneers where a crown is needed is a structural risk.

The clearest red flag in any overseas cosmetic proposal is a plan that uses the same treatment on every tooth without individual rationale. Read Turkey teeth explained for context on what aggressive crown preparation looks like and how to avoid it.

Whitening before veneers

If whitening is part of your smile makeover plan, it is scheduled first — before any veneer shade is selected.

The reason is straightforward. Porcelain veneer colour is fixed at manufacture. Once the ceramic is bonded, it cannot be whitened. Natural teeth, on the other hand, respond to bleaching. If natural teeth are visible alongside your new veneers — even on the sides of the smile — they must be whitened to the target shade before the veneers are ordered so that the lab colour-matches to the whitened result.

The sequence at Picasso is: Zoom! whitening on day 1, shade stabilisation over 48 to 72 hours, shade confirmation, then preparation and temporary veneers. This prevents the mismatch that occurs when whitening is done after veneers are already in place.

If all of your visible teeth are being covered with veneers or crowns and no natural tooth enamel will show in the smile zone, whitening is not required as a prerequisite — but it may still be included for non-visible teeth or as a home maintenance kit.

The typical Kiwi smile makeover timeline

Most veneer-led smile makeovers complete in a single trip of 7 to 10 days. Makeovers involving implants, orthodontics, or gum surgery require two trips and cannot be completed in one visit.

Do not book a tight return flight immediately after the bonding visit. The buffer days allow for any bite or comfort adjustment before you travel home.

When a smile makeover is the wrong timing

A smile makeover is not the right first step if:

• Active gum disease is present. Inflamed, bleeding, or receding gums must be treated and stable before any cosmetic ceramic is placed. Gum disease around new veneers accelerates and the result will not hold.
• Untreated decay exists. Decay under or adjacent to planned veneers must be restored first. Placing ceramics over active decay causes failure and pain.
• Significant bite problems are unaddressed. A heavy misaligned bite loads veneers incorrectly and leads to chips, debonding, and early failure.
• Bruxism is active and unmanaged. Teeth grinding without a prescribed night guard plan will shorten the life of any ceramic restoration and may void warranty coverage.
• Alignment requires orthodontics first. When crowding or rotation is significant enough that veneers would require over-preparation to compensate, orthodontic alignment first — with Invisalign or braces — preserves more healthy tooth and produces a better long-term result.
• The patient smokes heavily. Smoking increases the risk of gum recession, bonding failure, and ceramic discolouration. It does not make cosmetic work impossible, but the risk profile changes and must be discussed in the plan.

The honest plan says when not to proceed. If a clinic recommends cosmetic work without addressing any of the above conditions, that is a reason to seek a second opinion.

Read the honest risks of dental tourism for the full picture.

Stay in New Zealand if…

• You need changes to only 1 or 2 teeth — local composite bonding may be more practical than a dental trip.
• Your total treatment plan is under NZD 3,000 — flights and accommodation will consume most or all of the saving.
• You have active gum disease, untreated decay, or an unstable bite that needs local stabilisation before any cosmetic work.
• You require ACC-funded treatment available only through New Zealand providers.
• You cannot take 7 to 10 days away from work for a single veneer-led trip.
• Your makeover includes implants or orthodontics — multi-trip timelines need careful planning before committing to overseas treatment.
• You expect multiple chairside adjustment visits in the months after treatment.

Our cosmetic team

Dr. Emily Nguyen is Picasso’s Founding Clinical Director and the senior clinical lead for all smile makeover and veneer cases. She founded the clinic in 2013, led the 2023 rebrand to Picasso Dental Clinic, and sets cosmetic clinical standards across all six branches. Smile makeover plans involving veneers, composite work, and shade design are developed under her protocols and reviewed against the Portrait Sitting framework.

For makeovers that include orthodontic alignment, Dr. Thuan Phung — orthodontist with over 10 years of practice and 1,500+ completed cases — co-plans the sequencing so that alignment is completed to the correct finish position before veneer preparation begins.

For makeovers that include implants to replace missing teeth in the smile zone, Dr. Tran Thanh Phong — Head of Implantology — joins the planning team to determine implant timing, position, and integration before the aesthetic phase.

What your written smile makeover quote includes

Every Picasso NZD smile makeover quote returned before you book flights includes:

• Per-tooth treatment list — which teeth, which material, and the clinical reason for each decision.
• Material named for every unit (composite, Emax Press, Non-prep Emax, Lisi, Emax crown, Zirconia crown).
• Itemised NZD pricing using 1 NZD = 15,000 VND, dated on the quote.
• Whitening sequence and timing relative to shade selection and preparation.
• Preparation depth per tooth where applicable (e.g. 0.3 to 0.5mm for Emax Press veneers).
• Whether temporaries are included and how many review days are built into the schedule.
• Warranty period and coverage terms per material.
• Any prerequisite treatment required before cosmetic work begins (cleaning, gum treatment, structural restoration).
• A clear statement if whitening alone, composite bonding, or orthodontics would be more conservative than veneers for your specific case.

There are no on-arrival surprises. If a day 1 examination or OPG reveals an issue that changes the plan — decay under an old filling, a previously unknown crack — the revised plan is given in writing before any tooth preparation begins.

7 questions to ask before paying a deposit

Ask these before paying any deposit to any overseas dental clinic, including Picasso:

1. Which teeth are getting veneers and which are getting crowns — and what is the clinical reason for each? Get this in writing per tooth.
2. How much tooth reduction is planned per veneer tooth? Get this in millimetres, not just a general description.
3. What ceramic brand and grade is being used? (Emax Press, Non-prep Emax, Lisi, Zirconia — not a generic “porcelain”.)
4. Is whitening scheduled before shade selection and preparation, or after? If after, the shade sequence is wrong.
5. Are temporary veneers included between preparation and final bonding, and how many review days are built in?
6. What does the warranty cover and what does it exclude? Ask specifically about bruxism and maintenance requirements.
7. What documents do you take home for your New Zealand dentist — shade record, material specification, preparation notes, warranty paperwork?

If a clinic cannot answer every one of these clearly in writing, wait.

What to send for an indicative plan

The clearer the records, the more accurate the written estimate. Send the following to [email protected] or via:

• Front smile photo (relaxed, natural expression).
• Full smile photo (teeth showing).
• Retracted front photo (lips pulled back, showing the full front teeth).
• Left and right bite photos.
• Upper arch and lower arch photos (taken looking directly into the mouth).
• Close-up photos of any specific problem areas.
• Any OPG (panoramic X-ray) you already have.
• A description of what you dislike and what you want to keep natural.
• Any reference photos of smiles you find appealing.
• History of grinding, gum treatment, root canals, crowns, orthodontics, or existing cosmetic work.
• Any written estimate you have received from a New Zealand provider.

Phone photos in clear natural light are sufficient for triage. The returned plan is indicative until a clinical examination confirms the details in person — but it is detailed enough to make a flight-booking decision with confidence.

Aftercare in New Zealand

After returning from a smile makeover, the following apply regardless of the materials used:

• Avoid strongly staining food and drinks — coffee, red wine, tomato-based sauces — for the first two weeks while composite bonding margins settle.
• Wear the prescribed night guard from the first night home if you grind or clench. Unprotected grinding is the most common cause of ceramic chipping and warranty exclusion.
• Schedule a routine hygiene appointment with a New Zealand dentist within 3 months of returning. Bring your treatment summary, shade record, material specification, and warranty documents to that first appointment.
• Brush carefully twice daily and floss or use interdental brushes daily. Do not use abrasive whitening toothpastes on porcelain surfaces.
• Avoid biting hard objects — ice, hard bread crusts, pen lids, fingernails — with the front veneer teeth.

If any veneer or crown feels high in the bite, loosens, or chips after you return, contact Picasso before approving permanent local repair unless the issue is urgent. Read veneer care tips for the full maintenance guide and the SmileCare Global Warranty page for the claim process.

Next step

Send your photos and a brief description of your goals. Picasso returns a written NZD plan showing the tooth count, material for each tooth, whitening sequence if applicable, timeline, and total cost — usually within 24 hours, weekdays NZ time.

No deposit. No commitment. Decide with the written plan in front of you.

Request a free NZD quote · Veneers in detail · Full pricing · Is dental tourism 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.

Last clinically reviewed

26 May 2026

Published by

Picasso Dental Clinic

Review policy

Every medical procedure page on this site is reviewed by a named Picasso clinician before publication and re-checked when pricing, materials, or protocols change. Source documents are linked at the bottom of each page.