Dr. Emily Nguyen
Every patient is family to us, and every smile we create is a masterpiece painted with care, precision, and love.
Welcome to Picasso Dental Clinic
In 2013, I founded Picasso Dental Clinic with a simple vision: to make world-class dental care accessible to everyone. Today, we’ve transformed over 70,000 smiles from 62 countries. Every patient is family to us, and every smile we create is a masterpiece painted with care, precision, and love.
The Beginning
A Mother’s Smile That Changed Everything
My story begins in 1982 in Ho Chi Minh City, where I was born into a modest family. We didn’t have much in terms of material wealth, but what we lacked financially, we made up for in love and determination.
I was an extremely shy child (and stubborn, of course). I rarely smiled, preferring to observe the world from the sidelines rather than participate in it. But there was one thing that captivated me completely: my mother’s radiant smile.
Even during our family’s darkest times, my mother had this remarkable ability to light up a room with her smile. It made neighbors feel welcome. It put strangers at ease. It transformed difficult moments into bearable ones. I would watch in quiet awe as her confident smile opened doors and warmed hearts, creating joy even when our circumstances were challenging.
That’s when I made a promise to myself: I would become a dentist. Not just to fix teeth, but to give others what my mother possessed naturally. I wanted to help people find the confidence and beauty of a smile they could be truly proud of.
Building My Foundation
The Pearl Dental Years
When I graduated from medical school, I knew I needed to become the absolute best at my craft. So I joined Pearl Dental Clinic, one of Ho Chi Minh City’s most prestigious dental establishments, and I committed myself completely.
For years, I worked from 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. While my peers took weekends off, I stayed late, studied advanced techniques, and learned from every single case that came through our doors. It was exhausting, but I wasn’t just building a career. I was mastering an art form.
Those years at Pearl Dental (unfortunately Pearl Dental was closed down for good due to COVID) gave me the foundation I needed. I learned not just the technical skills of dentistry, but the patience, precision, and personal touch that would later define my own practice.
A New Chapter
Starting Over in Hanoi
In 2013, my life took an unexpected turn. I got married and had to relocate to Hanoi. Leaving behind my position at Pearl Dental and starting over in a new city could have felt like a setback, but I chose to see it differently. This was my opportunity to build something of my own.
That September, I opened Serenity International Dental Clinic.
I brought everything I had learned during those intense years at Pearl Dental to Hanoi. My attention to detail, my gentle approach with anxious patients, and my genuine commitment to creating beautiful, natural-looking smiles quickly set my clinic apart from others in the city.
Unexpected Growth
Growing Beyond My Expectations
I never imagined how quickly word would spread. Expatriates discovered a clinic where they felt truly understood and cared for. International patients began traveling to Hanoi specifically to visit us. People flew in from across Asia, Europe, and beyond, seeking the level of care we provided.
What started as a single clinic began to grow. We expanded to Da Nang, then back to my hometown of Ho Chi Minh City, and eventually to multiple locations throughout Hanoi. My team grew from a handful of dedicated professionals to dozens of talented dentists and staff members. Success stories multiplied.
But I’ll be honest: rapid growth brought challenges I hadn’t anticipated.
I found myself stretched thin, managing multiple locations, training expanding teams, and desperately trying to maintain the personal touch that built Serenity’s reputation in the first place. I loved what we had built, but I realized we needed more than just expansion. We needed transformation.
The Rebirth
Becoming Picasso Dental Clinic
In 2023, everything changed. A private equity firm approached me with a vision that aligned perfectly with what I knew we needed. They recognized the value of what we had built and wanted to help take it to the next level.
Together, we embarked on a complete transformation. Serenity International Dental Clinic was reimagined and rebranded as Picasso Dental Clinic. The name honored the artistry I’ve always believed is essential to dentistry while signaling our commitment to a bold, modern future.
This wasn’t just a cosmetic change. The partnership brought:
Modern Infrastructure: We implemented corporate systems and processes while preserving the patient-centered approach that made us successful
Advanced Technology: Substantial investment in state-of-the-art equipment across all our locations
Team Growth: Resources to attract and train the best dental professionals in Vietnam
Scalable Excellence: Systems designed to maintain consistent, high-quality care as we continue to expand
The Present
Where We Are Today
Today, Picasso Dental Clinic continues to expand throughout Vietnam and beyond. We serve thousands of patients annually, and I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together.
Our tagline, “Crafting Smiles, Painting Happiness,” isn’t just marketing language to me. It’s the continuation of that promise I made to myself as a shy little girl watching her mother’s transformative smile. It’s my commitment to every patient who walks through our doors.
Reflection
Reflecting on the Journey
Looking back, I realize that my childhood shyness and my mother’s radiant confidence created the perfect foundation for this work. I understand what it feels like to be uncomfortable with your smile. I know the transformation that’s possible when you finally feel confident showing the world who you really are.
Every time a patient looks in the mirror after treatment and I see that moment of joy and confidence, I think of my mother. I think of that shy little girl who made a promise. And I’m grateful that I get to fulfill that promise every single day.
Picasso Dental Clinic represents more than a successful business to me. It’s the embodiment of a lifetime commitment: helping people discover the confidence and beauty of a smile they can be truly proud of.
As we continue to grow and expand our reach, my founding vision remains unchanged. We’re not just performing dental procedures. We’re crafting smiles. We’re painting happiness. And we’re proving that dreams born in humble circumstances can transform into something truly extraordinary.