Cosmetic Dentistry · Led by Dr. Huong Nguyen (Dr. Rosie) · Last reviewed May 2026
Porcelain Veneers That Look
Like Real Teeth.
Picasso Dental places porcelain veneers in Vietnam using Emax Press, Emax Press Plus, Lisi and non-prep Emax, every veneer carrying a 7-year material warranty and designed digitally before any tooth is touched. Cases are led by Dr. Huong Nguyen (Dr. Rosie), our dedicated cosmetic dentist, with iTero scans and Digital Smile Design across our six branches.
What is a Porcelain Veneer?
A porcelain veneer is a custom-made shell of dental porcelain, 0.3–0.7mm thick, bonded to the front of a tooth to correct shape, colour, small gaps and minor misalignment. Most cases use Emax pressed lithium disilicate or Lisi premium ceramic. Once bonded, well-made porcelain veneers commonly last 10–15 years before needing replacement.
Why Picasso for Veneers
Designed Digitally Before You Commit
Every cosmetic case begins with photographs, an iTero scan, and a Digital Smile Design mock-up. You see the planned shape, length and shade of your new smile, and approve it, before any tooth is touched.
Minimally Invasive Preparation
Emax Press veneers require only 0.3–0.5mm of enamel reduction, a fraction of what older porcelain-fused-to-metal restorations needed. Where the case allows, we use non-prep veneers with no tooth reduction at all.
Premium Porcelain Only
Emax Press, Emax Press Plus, Lisi and Vivadent non-prep, the same lithium disilicate and pressed-ceramic materials used by top cosmetic clinics in Sydney and Paris. Every veneer comes with a 7-year material warranty.
Cosmetic Dentistry Specialist
Veneer cases at Picasso are led by Dr. Huong Nguyen (Dr. Rosie), our dedicated cosmetic dentist. Smile design is a different discipline from general restorative work, your veneers are designed by someone who does this every week.
Wax-Up + Mock-Up Before Bonding
Before final bonding, you wear a temporary mock-up of the planned veneers in your mouth. You can speak, smile, photograph yourself and approve the design, or ask for adjustments, before the porcelain is finalised.
iTero Digital Impressions
No putty trays. The iTero scanner captures the prepared teeth in minutes with sub-30-micron accuracy, so the veneers fit precisely on the first try and shade-matching is calibrated digitally.
Veneer Materials & Warranties
Most smile makeovers involve 6, 8 or 10 veneers across the upper front teeth. Your final quote depends on the material, number of teeth and any preparatory work needed.
| Material | Warranty |
|---|---|
| Composite veneer | 6 months |
| Porcelain inlay / onlay: Emax | 5 years |
| Porcelain overlay / tabletop: Emax | 5 years |
| Porcelain veneer: Emax Press | 7 years |
| Porcelain veneer: Emax Press Plus | 7 years |
| Non-prep veneer: Emax | 7 years |
| Porcelain veneer: Lisi | 7 years |
For itemised pricing, see the cosmetic dentistry cost guide. Need full-coverage instead of front-surface? See porcelain crowns.
Veneer Materials Explained
Four porcelain options at different price points. Your cosmetic dentist will recommend based on tooth condition, bite, shade goals and how much enamel can be safely preserved.
Emax Press
Pressed lithium disilicate. Our standard veneer material, strong, naturally translucent, and the option chosen by most patients. 0.3–0.5mm preparation, 7-year warranty.
Emax Press Plus
Refined Emax variant with improved aesthetic layering. A small step up in cost for cases where shade and translucency matching is critical (e.g. blending with natural neighbouring teeth).
Non-Prep Emax
Ultra-thin Emax veneers requiring no tooth reduction at all. Suitable where the underlying tooth is the right size and shape and only colour or minor surface correction is needed. Fully reversible in principle, though rarely removed once bonded.
Lisi
Premium pressed-ceramic veneer, our top-tier porcelain option for showcase smile makeovers where every nuance of translucency and surface texture matters.
Composite Veneer
Direct-bonded composite resin, sculpted on the tooth in a single visit. Most affordable option but shorter lifespan (6-month material warranty) and higher staining risk than porcelain. A good entry point or short-term solution.
Inlay / Onlay / Overlay
Partial-coverage Emax restorations for back teeth, used to rebuild a chewing surface without a full crown. Often recommended after large fillings fail or when a cusp fractures.
Who Is, and Isn't, a Good Candidate?
Veneers are a cosmetic correction, not a structural one. They suit some patients beautifully and are the wrong tool for others. Here's the honest version, decided after photographs, an iTero scan and a bite assessment.
You're a Strong Candidate If
You want to correct shape, colour, small gaps or minor edge irregularities on otherwise healthy front teeth.
Your bite is stable, no significant overbite, crossbite or grinding-driven wear pattern.
Your teeth have intact enamel for the veneer to bond to.
Your gums are healthy, with no active periodontal disease.
You are willing to wear a nightguard if you grind, and to attend 6-month hygiene visits.
You have realistic expectations, veneers improve appearance, but they do not move teeth.
Veneers May Not Be Right If
You have moderate or severe misalignment: Invisalign or braces should come first.
You grind or clench heavily without protection, porcelain can fracture.
You have large existing fillings, fractures or weakened tooth structure, a crown is the correct restoration, not a veneer.
You have active gum disease or extensive decay, both must be treated first.
You have significant enamel loss, there may not be enough surface for reliable bonding.
You expect veneers to function permanently with no maintenance, they will need replacement at some point in your lifetime.
How Veneer Treatment Works
Five steps from first photograph to final bonding. Most cases complete in two to three appointments over two to three weeks.
1. Consultation + Photography
Dr. Rosie or another cosmetic dentist examines your bite, takes high-resolution clinical photographs, and discusses what you want to change. We confirm whether veneers are the right tool, or whether whitening, orthodontics or crowns would do a better job.
2. Digital Smile Design + Wax-Up
We model your new smile digitally and produce a physical wax-up. You see exactly how the planned veneers will look, in 2D and 3D, before any clinical work begins.
3. Mock-Up in Your Mouth
A temporary, removable composite mock-up is placed directly on your teeth so you can speak, smile and live with the new shape for a short trial. Adjustments are made before any preparation begins.
4. Tooth Preparation + Scan
Minimal enamel is removed (0.3–0.5mm for Emax Press; none for non-prep cases). We capture an iTero scan, fit a temporary set, and the lab manufactures your final veneers to digital tolerances.
5. Bonding + Polish
At the bonding visit, each veneer is checked for fit, shade and contact, then bonded with light-cured adhesive. Final polish, occlusion check, photographs, done.
Aftercare
Veneers are cared for like natural teeth: brush, floss, regular hygiene visits. We recommend a nightguard if you grind, and cleaning visits twice yearly to preserve the bond margins.
Risks & Honest Tradeoffs
Veneers are a long-established cosmetic restoration, but no dental procedure is risk-free. Here is what the literature reports, what can go wrong, and how Picasso minimises the avoidable risks.
Documented Longevity
Long-term clinical studies, including Layton & Walton (2012), report porcelain veneer survival of around 94% at 10 years and 67% at 20 years. Most veneers eventually need replacement; few last a lifetime untouched. Our 7-year material warranty reflects current clinical evidence.
What Can Go Wrong
Debonding (the veneer comes off the tooth, usually re-cementable). Fracture (the porcelain chips or cracks). Marginal staining (colour pickup at the bond line over years). Sensitivity (typically transient, in the weeks after preparation).
How We Minimise Risk
Conservative 0.3–0.5mm preparation only. Digital Smile Design and physical mock-up before bonding. iTero digital impressions for sub-30-micron fit. Bite assessment and nightguard recommendation for grinders. Premium pressed-ceramic materials with manufacturer documentation.
The Irreversibility Tradeoff
Conventional Emax Press veneers require a small amount of enamel removal, that enamel does not regrow. Once you commit, the tooth will always need a veneer or crown to seal the prepared surface. Non-prep Emax veneers preserve all enamel and are reversible in principle, though rarely removed once bonded.
If a Veneer Fails Within Warranty
Within the 7-year warranty period and under normal use, porcelain replacement is covered. We retain your digital impression files so a duplicate can be fabricated quickly without re-scanning.
What We Will Tell You No To
If your case really needs orthodontics, a crown, or whitening rather than veneers, we will say so, even if it loses us the immediate work. Veneers placed on the wrong patient look beautiful for a year and fail expensively after that. We are not interested in that outcome.
Common Questions
How long do porcelain veneers last?
Emax Press, Emax Press Plus, Lisi and non-prep Emax veneers all carry a 7-year material warranty at Picasso. With good hygiene, regular check-ups and a nightguard if you grind, well-bonded porcelain veneers commonly last 10–15+ years before needing replacement.
How many veneers do I need?
It depends what you want to change. Smile makeovers often involve 6, 8 or 10 veneers across the upper front teeth so the final result blends. For correcting a single chipped or discoloured tooth, one veneer can be enough, though shade-matching one veneer to natural neighbours is sometimes harder than doing several.
Will my real tooth be ground down?
For Emax Press, we remove 0.3–0.5mm of enamel from the front and edge of the tooth, a fraction of what crowns require. For non-prep Emax, we remove no enamel at all. We do not endorse the more aggressive preparation styles you sometimes see online.
Will I see the result before bonding?
Yes, twice. Once digitally as a Digital Smile Design preview, and again as a physical mock-up worn in your mouth before any tooth preparation. We adjust shape, length and edge profile based on your feedback before the porcelain is finalised.
Should I whiten my teeth before veneers?
Often yes. Veneer porcelain does not change colour, so the shade of your other teeth sets the limit on how bright your veneers can naturally blend. We sequence whitening before the final shade decision so your veneers match a stable, brighter baseline.
Veneers, crowns or Invisalign, which do I need?
Veneers correct shape, shade and minor positioning, they are cosmetic. Crowns are full-coverage and used when a tooth is structurally compromised. Invisalign moves the actual position of teeth and is the right tool for real misalignment. Many cosmetic plans combine them: align first with Invisalign, then refine with a small number of veneers.
Will veneers stain?
Porcelain veneers (Emax, Lisi) resist staining far better than natural teeth, the surface is glazed ceramic. Composite veneers stain similarly to natural teeth and need polishing or replacement sooner. The bond margin between any veneer and the tooth can pick up colour over years, which is one reason hygiene visits matter.
Are veneers reversible?
Non-prep veneers are reversible in principle since no enamel is removed. Conventional Emax Press veneers are not strictly reversible, the small amount of enamel removed does not regrow. Once you commit to prepared veneers, the tooth will always need a veneer or crown to seal the prepared surface.
Can I get veneers as an international patient?
Yes, most cases finish in two clinic visits within roughly two weeks, which fits a single dental tourism trip. We plan the case digitally before you fly, so the wax-up, mock-up and impressions can be sequenced into your stay. See our international patient guide for details.
What happens if a veneer chips or comes off?
Within the 7-year warranty period and under normal use, replacement is covered. If a veneer fractures, we make and bond a replacement. We retain your digital records so a duplicate can be fabricated quickly. Re-cementing a debonded porcelain veneer is quoted as a small lab fee, see the cosmetic dentistry cost guide.
Veneers Patients in Their Own Words
Patient Stories
Start Here
See Your New Smile
Before Any Tooth is Touched.
Book a free cosmetic consultation. We'll photograph and scan your smile, build a Digital Smile Design preview, recommend the right veneer material and number, and quote you in writing before any clinical work begins.