Veneers
Veneers in Vietnam - Portrait Sitting protocol
Porcelain veneers at Picasso Dental Clinic for UK patients, with conservative preparation, shade planning, transparent GBP pricing, and warranty guidance.
UK patients can receive Emax Press porcelain veneers at Picasso Dental Clinic in Vietnam from GBP 290 per tooth, using the Portrait Sitting protocol to plan shade, shape, preparation, temporaries, and aftercare before final bonding.
Veneers are the hero treatment for many UK patients considering dental work in Vietnam because the price gap is large, the visual change is high, and many cases can be completed in a single trip.
But veneers are also irreversible when tooth preparation is involved. That is why the decision should never start with the whitest shade or the cheapest package.
The better question is: can your smile be improved while preserving as much healthy tooth as possible, using a material and timeline that still make sense after flights, accommodation, annual leave, and aftercare are included?
Picasso Dental Clinic built the Portrait Sitting protocol around that question.
What veneers are
Veneers are thin restorations bonded to the front surface of teeth. They can improve colour, shape, minor spacing, edge wear, small chips, tooth size, and smile symmetry.
They are not the same as crowns. A crown covers the whole tooth and usually requires more tooth reduction. Crowns are often better for teeth that are heavily broken, root-canal treated, cracked, or structurally weak. Veneers are usually preferred when the front surface needs aesthetic improvement and the tooth is otherwise suitable.
That distinction matters. Many overseas horror stories come from patients who thought they were getting veneers but received aggressive crown-style preparation.
Picasso veneer prices in GBP
Prices are from the May 2026 Picasso price list, converted at 1 GBP = 31,000 VND.
| Veneer type | Picasso price | Published warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Composite veneer | GBP 97 per tooth | 6 months |
| Porcelain veneer, Emax Press | GBP 290 per tooth | 7 years |
| Porcelain veneer, Emax Press Plus | GBP 323 per tooth | 7 years |
| Non-prep veneer, Emax | GBP 355 per tooth | 7 years |
| Porcelain veneer, Lisi | GBP 387 per tooth | 7 years |
A 10-tooth Emax Press case is GBP 2,903 before flights and accommodation. A 16-tooth case is GBP 4,645 before flights and accommodation.
Those numbers are why the saving can be meaningful for UK patients. The flight does not make sense for one small chip. It can make sense for a full smile case.
UK vs Picasso economics
| Example | Typical UK private range | Picasso Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| One porcelain veneer | GBP 726 to GBP 1,210+ | From GBP 290 |
| 10 porcelain veneers | GBP 7,258 to GBP 12,097+ | From GBP 2,903 |
| 16 porcelain veneers | GBP 11,613 to GBP 19,355+ | From GBP 4,645 |
These UK ranges are planning benchmarks, not a promise about your local dentist. The important point is the break-even logic. Dental tourism only becomes rational when the treatment value is large enough to outweigh travel cost and time away.
For one veneer, stay in the UK unless you are already travelling. For 10 or more veneers, the savings can still be material after flights and accommodation.
Read veneer costs - UK vs Vietnam for the detailed cost page.
Portrait Sitting - why it matters
The Portrait Sitting protocol is Picasso’s answer to high-volume cosmetic dentistry.
It is based on the idea that a smile is not a row of identical white blocks. It sits inside a face. It moves with lips. It changes speech. It has to match age, skin tone, bite, gum line, and personality.
The protocol focuses on five clinical steps.
1. Photography and facial analysis
Before tooth preparation, the team studies tooth proportions, smile arc, lip line, midline, edge display, and face shape. This helps avoid a smile that looks technically neat but visually wrong.
2. Shade and shape discussion
Some patients want a bright cosmetic result. Others want a natural upgrade that does not announce itself. Picasso discusses shade before final ceramics are made, so the result is intentional rather than guessed.
3. Conservative preparation where possible
Picasso’s service reference lists Emax Press veneers as minimally invasive, with 0.3 to 0.5mm tooth reduction where clinically appropriate. That does not mean every tooth can be no-prep. It means the goal is to remove the least tooth structure needed for health, strength, and aesthetics.
4. Temporaries
Temporaries let you experience shape, length, speech, and bite before final bonding. They are not the final result, but they are an important checkpoint.
5. Final bonding and bite check
The final visit is not only about appearance. The dentist checks bite contacts, comfort, margins, and aftercare instructions before you fly home.
Porcelain vs composite veneers
| Factor | Porcelain veneers | Composite veneers |
|---|---|---|
| Picasso price | GBP 290 to GBP 387 per tooth | GBP 97 per tooth |
| Typical use | Full smile makeover, longer-term aesthetic cases | Small shape changes, trial aesthetics, conservative corrections |
| Stain resistance | Higher | Lower |
| Lifespan | Often longer with good care | Shorter and more maintenance-heavy |
| Repair | Often requires lab replacement or repair | Easier to patch or polish |
| Preparation | Varies by tooth and design | Often more conservative |
Porcelain is usually the stronger choice for a full smile makeover. Composite is useful when the goal is smaller, the budget is lower, or the patient wants to test aesthetics before committing to ceramic work.
Read porcelain veneers and composite veneers for the deeper guides.
Who is a good veneer candidate?
You may be a good candidate if you have:
- Discoloured teeth that whitening cannot correct.
- Worn or uneven front teeth.
- Small chips.
- Minor spacing.
- Mild shape or proportion issues.
- Healthy gums.
- Stable bite.
- Realistic expectations about shade, maintenance, and replacement.
Photos help, but a final decision requires a dental examination. Some patients need whitening, gum treatment, orthodontics, crowns, or implant work before veneers make sense.
How many veneers do UK patients usually consider?
There is no correct universal number. The right tooth count depends on how many teeth show when you smile and speak.
Many cosmetic cases focus on the upper front 8 to 10 teeth because those are most visible in a normal smile. Some patients add lower whitening only. Others need 12 to 16 veneers when the smile is broad or when the lower teeth show clearly in speech.
More veneers do not automatically mean a better result. Treating too few teeth can create a mismatch between new ceramics and natural teeth. Treating too many teeth can add cost and unnecessary preparation. The goal is balance.
This is another reason a fixed package can be misleading. A package that sells 20 or 28 teeth before diagnosis may not match your actual smile display, bite, or budget.
When veneers are not the answer
Veneers may be the wrong first step if you have active gum disease, untreated decay, severe crowding, major bite problems, heavy grinding without a guard plan, unrealistic shade expectations, or teeth that are too structurally damaged for conservative veneer bonding.
If your front teeth are heavily filled or cracked, crowns may be more honest. If your teeth are crowded, Invisalign or braces may preserve more tooth than cutting the teeth into alignment. If you only have one tiny chip, local bonding in the UK may be more sensible than a dental trip.
The safest clinic is the one that tells you when not to do veneers.
The typical British veneer timeline
Most straightforward veneer cases need about 7 to 10 days in Vietnam.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before travel | Send photos, goals, and OPG if available for a written GBP estimate |
| Day 1 | Consultation, photos, scan or X-ray, shade discussion, treatment confirmation |
| Days 2 to 3 | Preparation where required, temporary veneers, lab instructions |
| Middle of trip | Try-in or adjustment steps depending on case |
| Final days | Bonding, bite check, polish, aftercare instructions, warranty documents |
Do not book a flight home too tightly after final bonding. Leave time for review, minor adjustment, and comfort checks.
Safety questions to ask before booking
Ask these before paying a deposit:
- Am I getting veneers, crowns, or a mix?
- How much preparation do you expect per tooth?
- What ceramic material is proposed?
- Are temporaries included?
- What happens if the shade or shape is not right at try-in?
- What warranty applies?
- What records do I take home for my UK dentist?
If the clinic cannot answer clearly, wait.
Read Turkey teeth explained before booking cosmetic dentistry overseas.
What to send for a better quote
The better your records, the better the estimate.
Send:
- A relaxed front smile photo.
- A retracted front photo with lips pulled back.
- Right and left bite photos.
- Upper and lower arch photos.
- Any OPG X-ray you already have.
- A note about what you dislike and what you want to keep natural.
- Any history of grinding, gum disease, root canals, crowns, or orthodontics.
Do not worry if the photos are taken on a phone. Good light and clear angles matter more than professional photography. The quote is still preliminary, but clear records help Picasso identify obvious limits before you book travel.
Aftercare when you return to UK
Veneers need maintenance. Brush carefully. Clean between teeth. Avoid chewing ice, bones, hard shells, pens, fingernails, and other non-food items. If you grind, wear the night guard if one is prescribed.
Schedule routine hygiene and review with a UK dentist. Bring your treatment summary, material details, shade information, and warranty documents.
If a veneer chips, loosens, or feels high in the bite, contact Picasso before approving permanent repair unless it is urgent. Read chipped or loose veneer and veneer care tips.
Next step
Send six phone photos and an OPG if you have one. Picasso will return a written GBP plan showing likely tooth count, material, timing, and cost before you book flights.