Warranty
SmileCare Global Warranty — Picasso Dental Clinic
Warranty terms for New Zealand patients after dental treatment at Picasso Vietnam — material warranties from 6 months to 10 years, the claim process from NZ, exclusions, and return-flight support.
Picasso Dental Clinic's SmileCare Global Warranty gives New Zealand patients a written pathway for eligible remedial work after treatment in Vietnam. Material warranties range from 6 months on composite veneers to 7 years on Emax porcelain veneers and 10 years on Lava, Lava Plus, and ORODENT crowns. The warranty covers remote clinical review, coordination with your NZ dentist, and return-flight support when Picasso approves a warranty visit under the written terms. No dental brand at Picasso carries a lifetime warranty.
A warranty matters more when your dentist is in another country. For a NZ patient, the question isn’t only “How many years is the warranty?” It’s “What happens if I notice a problem after I fly home?”
The SmileCare Global Warranty exists to answer that. It gives Picasso patients a written pathway for documenting an issue, getting remote clinical review, deciding whether local NZ care is enough, and arranging a return visit when we approve one under the written terms.
This page explains the warranty in plain English. It isn’t a substitute for the final policy documents you receive at treatment completion. Your written treatment pack is the actual contract for your case — keep it accessible.
A warranty is a process, not just a number
Most clinics advertise a warranty period. That’s useful, but incomplete.
A warranty is only useful when the process is clear:
- Who do you contact?
- What evidence do they need?
- How quickly should you report?
- Can a NZ dentist help while you wait for a decision?
- What happens if outside repair changes the work?
- When does return travel apply?
- What’s excluded?
For Kiwis, this matters because you’re not popping back into a clinic across town. You may be 9,000 kilometres away, in a different time zone, with a NZ dentist who needs records before touching another clinic’s work.
Published material warranties
| Treatment / material | Warranty |
|---|---|
| Composite veneer | 6 months |
| Emax Press porcelain veneer | 7 years |
| Emax Press Plus veneer | 7 years |
| Non-prep Emax veneer | 7 years |
| Porcelain fused to titanium crown | 5 years |
| Zirconia crown | 5 years |
| CERCON HT / Ceramill Zolid crown | 5–7 years |
| Emax crown | 7 years |
| Lava crown | 10 years |
| Lava Plus crown | 10 years |
| ORODENT crown | 10 years |
These are the material-line terms from the current May 2026 price reference. They don’t mean every clinical issue is automatically covered. A chipped veneer from trauma, a crown damaged by grinding without the prescribed night-guard, or work altered elsewhere are handled differently from a material or workmanship defect.
Implant warranty needs careful reading
Implants are different from veneers and crowns because they involve surgery, bone healing, hygiene, bite force, medical history, smoking, and time.
We stock Osstem, ETK, Neodent, SIC, Nobel Biocare, Straumann, and Straumann BLX. Single implant combo prices range from NZD 1,667 to NZD 3,000 depending on brand (May 2026 reference at 1 NZD = 15,000 VND).
No implant brand at Picasso carries a lifetime warranty. Nobel Biocare and Straumann systems carry 10-year crown warranties. Osstem carries 5 years. Your final implant warranty depends on the brand, the case type, the prosthetic design, your aftercare, and your written handover pack.
For All-on-4, All-on-6, and All-on-X prosthetics, confirm the exact prosthetic warranty before relying on a claim.
What’s usually excluded
Warranty terms vary by treatment, but dental warranties commonly exclude problems caused by factors outside the clinic’s control.
- Trauma, falls, sports injuries, or accidents
- Grinding or clenching when a prescribed night-guard isn’t worn
- Poor hygiene or untreated gum disease
- Smoking or health factors that compromise healing
- Normal wear after the warranty term expires
- Elective shade changes after approval
- Bite changes caused by later dental work elsewhere
- Repairs, adjustments, or replacements by another dentist without prior approval (except genuine emergencies)
- Missed reviews or recommended maintenance
This is why aftercare matters. A warranty doesn’t replace brushing, flossing, hygiene visits, night-guard use, or review appointments.
What to do if you notice a problem in New Zealand
Start by documenting the issue.
Take clear photos in good light. If something moves, take a short video. Write down when you first noticed it, whether there’s pain, whether your bite feels different, and whether any trauma happened.
Then contact your Picasso coordinator or email with:
- Your full name and treatment date
- Picasso branch where the work was done
- Booking or patient ID
- Tooth number if known
- Photos or video
- Symptoms
- Any notes from your NZ dentist
If you have facial swelling, fever, uncontrolled bleeding, difficulty breathing, spreading infection, or severe pain, seek urgent NZ care first. Emergency care comes before warranty admin.
Why you should wait before approving outside repair
If the issue isn’t an emergency, wait for Picasso’s remote review before approving a local repair.
This protects the warranty process. Once another dentist adjusts, cuts, removes, re-cements, or replaces a restoration, it can become difficult to determine the original cause — and your eligibility may change.
That doesn’t mean you should ignore pain. It means separate emergency stabilisation from elective repair.
A NZ dentist can take an X-ray, smooth a sharp edge, prescribe medication, or temporarily stabilise a problem — that’s fine, and doesn’t void anything. Full replacement or permanent alteration should be discussed with Picasso first when possible.
Read what if something goes wrong for the full triage pathway.
Your NZ dentist’s role after Picasso treatment
Your NZ dentist is still important. They handle:
- Routine hygiene cleans
- Gum monitoring
- X-rays
- Bite checks
- Early diagnosis of any developing issue
- Emergency assessment
- Maintenance of the natural teeth around your dental work
They’ll be much more comfortable helping if you arrive with proper records.
What to bring home from Vietnam
| Document | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Treatment summary | Tells your NZ dentist exactly what was done |
| Invoice (NZD and VND) | For any insurance claim you wish to lodge |
| Implant brand card / fixture label | Identifies the system for maintenance and warranty |
| OPG or CBCT imaging copies | Baseline X-ray for future comparison |
| Shade prescription / material names | Useful for matching if anything needs replacement |
| Warranty documents | Defines your terms and claim pathway |
| Aftercare instructions | Documents your responsibilities — affects warranty |
| Picasso coordinator contact | Email for your NZ dentist’s reference |
Digital copies on your phone or cloud storage are enough. Physical documents are a bonus.
The goal is shared care, not secrecy. A good overseas clinic should make your NZ dentist’s job easier, not harder.
Return-flight support
SmileCare can include return-flight support when Picasso approves a warranty visit under the written policy.
That doesn’t mean every concern triggers a paid flight. It also doesn’t mean you should book a ticket first and ask later.
The normal sequence is:
- You report the issue with evidence
- Picasso reviews the case remotely
- We decide whether local NZ care, monitoring, or a return visit is appropriate
- If a warranty visit is approved, travel support is arranged under the written policy
- You receive instructions before booking any travel
Read warranty return-flight support for the dedicated page.
How warranty should influence treatment choice
Warranty shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision, but it should influence how you compare treatment options.
Composite veneers cost NZD 200 per tooth but carry only a 6-month warranty. Emax Press porcelain veneers cost NZD 600 per tooth and carry 7 years. Lava and Lava Plus crowns cost more than zirconia but carry 10-year terms.
The cheapest option isn’t always the best long-term option. The right option depends on the tooth, your bite, your budget, and how much maintenance risk you’re willing to carry.
For implants, the decision is more complex. Brand tier, bone quality, surgical protocol, crown design, and your hygiene all matter. Ask the treating dentist why a specific brand is recommended for your case.
How to compare warranty promises between clinics
When comparing overseas clinics, don’t just compare the headline number. Compare the written mechanism.
Ask each clinic to show you:
- The exact material or implant brand covered
- Whether the warranty covers the fixture, abutment, crown, veneer, bridge, or labour
- Whether travel costs are ever supported
- What happens if you need urgent stabilisation in New Zealand
- Whether outside repair voids the warranty
- Whether grinding, smoking, poor hygiene, or missed reviews change eligibility
- How long the clinic typically takes to respond to a claim
A short warranty that clearly explains the process can be more useful than a long warranty that hides exclusions. A “lifetime” claim with no documents is not stronger than a 7-year material warranty that tells you exactly what to do.
For Kiwis, the response pathway matters as much as the duration. You need someone to review photos, talk to your local dentist if needed, and make a clear decision before small problems become expensive ones.
Warranty doesn’t replace maintenance
A warranty is not a maintenance plan.
After veneers, crowns, implants, or full-arch treatment, you still need:
- Careful brushing with a soft-bristle brush and non-abrasive paste
- Daily interdental cleaning — floss or interdental brushes around veneer margins and implant crowns
- Six-monthly professional hygiene visits
- Night-guard use if prescribed
- No chewing ice, bones, hard shells, or non-food items
- Prompt review of chips, cracks, looseness, swelling, or bleeding
For veneer care, read veneer aftercare and night guards and bruxism. For implants, read implant aftercare.
Before you book
Before committing to treatment, ask Picasso for a written NZD quote and the warranty terms that apply to each treatment line.
For a large case, ask these seven questions:
- Which materials are proposed?
- What warranty term applies to each material?
- What’s excluded?
- What records do I receive?
- What happens if I notice a problem in NZ?
- When would return-flight support apply?
- What maintenance is required to keep the warranty valid?
The best warranty is the one you understand before treatment starts.
Related reading
- Pricing — every NZD line with warranty term
- Is dental tourism safe?
- Follow-up care in New Zealand
- What if something goes wrong
- Return-flight support
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
What does the SmileCare warranty actually cover?
SmileCare sets the review pathway for eligible material, prosthetic, and workmanship issues after treatment at Picasso Dental Clinic. Exact coverage depends on the treatment line, material, your aftercare, and the written handover pack issued at treatment completion. Each treatment's specific terms are in your final paperwork — keep it accessible.
How long is the warranty?
Duration varies by material. Composite veneers carry a 6-month warranty. Emax Press porcelain veneers carry 7 years. Zirconia crowns carry 5 years. Emax crowns carry 7 years. Lava, Lava Plus, and ORODENT crowns carry 10 years. Implant crown warranties are typically 5 years (Osstem) or 10 years (Nobel Biocare, Straumann), but no implant brand at Picasso offers a lifetime warranty.
Are dental implants covered for life?
No. Picasso doesn't offer a lifetime warranty on any treatment. Nobel Biocare and Straumann implant systems carry 10-year crown warranties. Osstem carries a 5-year crown warranty. Each implant brand's specific terms are confirmed in your written treatment pack. Any clinic claiming a lifetime implant warranty without exclusions deserves close scrutiny.
How do I make a warranty claim from New Zealand?
Contact your Picasso coordinator or email with photos, video if useful, a written description of symptoms, your booking or patient ID, and any New Zealand dentist notes. Picasso reviews the case remotely and decides whether local stabilisation, monitoring, or a return visit is appropriate. Unless it's a genuine emergency, wait for Picasso's remote review before approving outside repair.
Will Picasso pay for me to fly back to Vietnam?
SmileCare can include return-flight support when Picasso approves a warranty visit under the written policy. The exact eligibility, approval process, and limits are controlled by the written terms in your handover pack. Don't book a flight before the warranty visit has been approved in writing.
Does outside repair void the warranty?
Elective repair, replacement, or significant alteration by another dentist without Picasso's prior approval can affect warranty eligibility. Emergency stabilisation by a NZ dentist — taking an X-ray, smoothing a sharp edge, prescribing medication, temporarily securing a loose restoration — does not. Always contact Picasso before approving non-emergency repair so the warranty stays intact.