Same-Day Emergency Care, Monday Through Thursday
Call us at (361) 992-9500. Kennedy Dental Care offers same-day emergency appointments Monday through Thursday, in most cases, at all four Corpus Christi offices – and calling first means we can guide you, prepare for your child, and get you to the right office quickly.
If your child has uncontrolled bleeding, swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, a suspected jaw injury, or hit their head – go to the emergency room or call 911 first.
When in doubt, call – describing it to us takes two minutes and settles it.
If your child has:
Handle the medical emergency first – teeth come second.
If your child has:
What to do before you reach us. Need extra reassurance? Call (361) 992-9500 now.
Knocked-out permanent tooth. Pick it up by the crown – the white part – never the root. If it is dirty, rinse it gently with milk or water; do not scrub. If your child is old enough to cooperate, place it back in the socket and have them bite gently on clean gauze or cloth to hold it. If not, keep it in a cup of milk or your child's saliva – not water, not a dry napkin. Then get to us fast – ideally within 30 minutes. Speed matters more than anything else you do.
Knocked-out baby tooth. Do not put a baby tooth back in the socket – reimplanting it can damage the adult tooth developing underneath. Find the tooth if you can, comfort your child, apply gentle pressure with gauze if there is bleeding, and call us the same day so we can check the area and the teeth around it.
Toothache. Rinse with warm water and gently floss beside the sore tooth – trapped food causes more toothaches than parents expect. A cold compress on the cheek helps swelling, while children's pain reliever, used exactly as directed on the label, can help until you reach us. Never place aspirin against the gums – it burns the tissue. Call us the same day if pain is severe or persistent, and urgently if there is fever or facial swelling.
Abscess or facial swelling. A pimple-like bump on the gums, a swollen cheek, or a bad taste can signal infection – call us the same day. If swelling is spreading or your child has fever, treat it as urgent; infections in the mouth can move quickly.
Chipped or broken tooth. Rinse the mouth with warm water, save any pieces in milk or water and bring them, and use a cold compress for swelling. Many chips are repaired with tooth-colored material that blends right in – often the same day.
Bitten lip or tongue. Clean the area gently, apply pressure with gauze or a clean cloth, and use a cold compress. Most stop bleeding within minutes; if bleeding will not stop, or the cut is deep or gaping, head to the ER.
We are honest about our hours: our offices see patients Monday through Thursday (Monday through Wednesday at Staples), and exact hours vary by office – each location page lists them. If a true emergency happens outside those hours – uncontrolled bleeding, dangerous swelling, serious trauma – go to the nearest emergency room or call 911. For everything else, use the first-aid steps above, keep your child comfortable, and call us when we open; emergencies get priority in the day's schedule.
Book an AppointmentWhen your child is hurt or in pain, every minute feels long. Since 1969, Coastal Bend families have called Kennedy Dental Care in exactly these moments – knocked-out teeth at the ballpark. Swollen cheeks that appeared out of nowhere. Our team treats dental emergencies with the same calm, child-first approach as every other visit, because a scared child needs calm more than anyone. Call (361) 992-9500 and let us take it from here.
55+
Years serving the Coastal Bend
04
Convenient locations
4.9★
Average patient rating
Lost filling or loose crown. Keep the area clean and avoid chewing on that side, then call us. These issues are usually a quick fix, and our Dental Crowns page explains what to expect.
Something stuck between teeth. Try gentle flossing – never a pin, tweezers, or anything sharp. If it will not come out, call us before it becomes a sore.
Every emergency starts with an exam so you get a real answer, not a guess – and you approve the estimate before treatment. We accept most insurance plans, as well as Medicaid and CHIP, and our team verifies coverage on the spot. Membership plan families are covered here too: the plan includes an emergency exam each year, plus 25% off procedures. CareCredit and Cherry financing are available when treatment is extensive.
Book an AppointmentYes – in most cases. We hold room for same-day emergency appointments Monday through Thursday at all four offices, and calling first beats walking in: one call at (361) 992-9500 lets us guide your first aid, route you to the office that can see your child soonest, and have the room ready when you arrive. Families searching for a “walk-in dentist” want speed – calling ahead is genuinely the faster path.
Book an Appointment
Held Monday–Thursday at all four offices.
Board-certified pediatric dentists who treat scared, hurting kids all the time – calm is our default setting.
Nitrous oxide and deeper sedation, in-house, when an emergency needs it.
Saratoga, Alameda, Staples, and Calallen – so help is close, from Calallen and Annaville to Flour Bluff and Portland, TX.
A 4.9-star average across 3250+ Google reviews, serving Coastal Bend families since 1969.
Pediatric Dentistry Team
III, M.S., D.D.S.
Dr. Paul Kennedy, known to his patients as “Dr. Paul,” is a lifelong resident of Corpus Christi with a deep passion for improving children's oral health.
He attended Windsor Park Elementary, Baker Middle School, and graduated from Mary Carroll High School. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Baylor University and a Master of Science from Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. Dr. Paul completed his dental degree at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco and received his certificate in pediatric dentistry from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.
Dr. Paul is actively involved in professional organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) and the Texas Dental Association (TDA).
Outside of the office, he enjoys fishing, boating, and spending time outdoors with his wife, Merritt, and their two children.
Kennedy Dental Care holds a 4.9-star average rating across 3,250+ Google reviews – a reflection of the care our team brings to every visit.
“I can not express how deeply I appreciate the staff and the dentists. They are amazing people each and everyone of the staff members. Always kind ,friendly welcoming, and very professional. I have had nothing but good experiences at this location.”
“Our experience from the front end to check out was nothing short of amazing. My daughters always feel welcomed and at ease when going to the dentist. My youngest was asked to hit a home run for KDC at her game and she did!”
“Absolutely love this place &’ it was only our first time there. Everyone was welcoming, very nice &’ patient with my daughter. So glad my friend referred us here 😃.”
“I was very hesitant about my daughter having a frenectomy procedure done, but the staff and Dr. Pruitt provided the most amazing experience I could have asked for. Their knowledge, patience, kindness, and reassurance made everything OK. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend them. If I could give 10 stars, I would definitely give them 10 stars.”
“The BEST patient experience like always. Both hygienist were very sweet with my kids & the dentist was sweet as well and I loved that she explained every question I had, to top it all off my kids adored meeting service dog Scout that’s goes every Thursday. Her and her handler were amazing. I love that my kids look forward to their cleanings every 6 months. 10/10’recommend to anyone looking for a dental pediatric home! 🤍”
“I can not express how deeply I appreciate the staff and the dentists. They are amazing people each and everyone of the staff members. Always kind ,friendly welcoming, and very professional. I have had nothing but good experiences at this location.”
“Our experience from the front end to check out was nothing short of amazing. My daughters always feel welcomed and at ease when going to the dentist. My youngest was asked to hit a home run for KDC at her game and she did!”
“Absolutely love this place &’ it was only our first time there. Everyone was welcoming, very nice &’ patient with my daughter. So glad my friend referred us here 😃.”
“I was very hesitant about my daughter having a frenectomy procedure done, but the staff and Dr. Pruitt provided the most amazing experience I could have asked for. Their knowledge, patience, kindness, and reassurance made everything OK. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend them. If I could give 10 stars, I would definitely give them 10 stars.”
“The BEST patient experience like always. Both hygienist were very sweet with my kids & the dentist was sweet as well and I loved that she explained every question I had, to top it all off my kids adored meeting service dog Scout that’s goes every Thursday. Her and her handler were amazing. I love that my kids look forward to their cleanings every 6 months. 10/10’recommend to anyone looking for a dental pediatric home! 🤍”
“I can not express how deeply I appreciate the staff and the dentists. They are amazing people each and everyone of the staff members. Always kind ,friendly welcoming, and very professional. I have had nothing but good experiences at this location.”
“Our experience from the front end to check out was nothing short of amazing. My daughters always feel welcomed and at ease when going to the dentist. My youngest was asked to hit a home run for KDC at her game and she did!”
“Absolutely love this place &’ it was only our first time there. Everyone was welcoming, very nice &’ patient with my daughter. So glad my friend referred us here 😃.”
“I was very hesitant about my daughter having a frenectomy procedure done, but the staff and Dr. Pruitt provided the most amazing experience I could have asked for. Their knowledge, patience, kindness, and reassurance made everything OK. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend them. If I could give 10 stars, I would definitely give them 10 stars.”
“The BEST patient experience like always. Both hygienist were very sweet with my kids & the dentist was sweet as well and I loved that she explained every question I had, to top it all off my kids adored meeting service dog Scout that’s goes every Thursday. Her and her handler were amazing. I love that my kids look forward to their cleanings every 6 months. 10/10’recommend to anyone looking for a dental pediatric home! 🤍”
“I can not express how deeply I appreciate the staff and the dentists. They are amazing people each and everyone of the staff members. Always kind ,friendly welcoming, and very professional. I have had nothing but good experiences at this location.”
“Our experience from the front end to check out was nothing short of amazing. My daughters always feel welcomed and at ease when going to the dentist. My youngest was asked to hit a home run for KDC at her game and she did!”
“Absolutely love this place &’ it was only our first time there. Everyone was welcoming, very nice &’ patient with my daughter. So glad my friend referred us here 😃.”
“I was very hesitant about my daughter having a frenectomy procedure done, but the staff and Dr. Pruitt provided the most amazing experience I could have asked for. Their knowledge, patience, kindness, and reassurance made everything OK. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend them. If I could give 10 stars, I would definitely give them 10 stars.”
“The BEST patient experience like always. Both hygienist were very sweet with my kids & the dentist was sweet as well and I loved that she explained every question I had, to top it all off my kids adored meeting service dog Scout that’s goes every Thursday. Her and her handler were amazing. I love that my kids look forward to their cleanings every 6 months. 10/10’recommend to anyone looking for a dental pediatric home! 🤍”
“I can not express how deeply I appreciate the staff and the dentists. They are amazing people each and everyone of the staff members. Always kind ,friendly welcoming, and very professional. I have had nothing but good experiences at this location.”
“Our experience from the front end to check out was nothing short of amazing. My daughters always feel welcomed and at ease when going to the dentist. My youngest was asked to hit a home run for KDC at her game and she did!”
“Absolutely love this place &’ it was only our first time there. Everyone was welcoming, very nice &’ patient with my daughter. So glad my friend referred us here 😃.”
“I was very hesitant about my daughter having a frenectomy procedure done, but the staff and Dr. Pruitt provided the most amazing experience I could have asked for. Their knowledge, patience, kindness, and reassurance made everything OK. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend them. If I could give 10 stars, I would definitely give them 10 stars.”
“The BEST patient experience like always. Both hygienist were very sweet with my kids & the dentist was sweet as well and I loved that she explained every question I had, to top it all off my kids adored meeting service dog Scout that’s goes every Thursday. Her and her handler were amazing. I love that my kids look forward to their cleanings every 6 months. 10/10’recommend to anyone looking for a dental pediatric home! 🤍”
“I can not express how deeply I appreciate the staff and the dentists. They are amazing people each and everyone of the staff members. Always kind ,friendly welcoming, and very professional. I have had nothing but good experiences at this location.”
“Our experience from the front end to check out was nothing short of amazing. My daughters always feel welcomed and at ease when going to the dentist. My youngest was asked to hit a home run for KDC at her game and she did!”
“Absolutely love this place &’ it was only our first time there. Everyone was welcoming, very nice &’ patient with my daughter. So glad my friend referred us here 😃.”
“I was very hesitant about my daughter having a frenectomy procedure done, but the staff and Dr. Pruitt provided the most amazing experience I could have asked for. Their knowledge, patience, kindness, and reassurance made everything OK. I couldn't have asked for a better experience. I highly recommend them. If I could give 10 stars, I would definitely give them 10 stars.”
“The BEST patient experience like always. Both hygienist were very sweet with my kids & the dentist was sweet as well and I loved that she explained every question I had, to top it all off my kids adored meeting service dog Scout that’s goes every Thursday. Her and her handler were amazing. I love that my kids look forward to their cleanings every 6 months. 10/10’recommend to anyone looking for a dental pediatric home! 🤍”
Severe or persistent tooth pain, a knocked-out or badly broken tooth, facial swelling or a visible abscess, uncontrolled bleeding, or any dental injury from trauma. When in doubt, call (361) 992-9500 – describing it to our team settles it in two minutes.
For a permanent tooth: hold it by the crown, rinse gently if dirty, place it back in the socket if your child can cooperate – or keep it in milk or saliva – and get to us ideally within 30 minutes. Speed is everything.
It needs a same-day call, but do not put a baby tooth back in the socket – reimplanting can damage the adult tooth underneath. We will check the area and the surrounding teeth.
Persistent or severe pain is – and pain with fever or facial swelling is urgent. A mild ache after something cold usually is not, but a toothache that lasts more than a day deserves a call either way.
Yes, in most cases – Monday through Thursday at all four Corpus Christi offices. Call first: it is genuinely faster than walking in, and it lets us prepare for your child.
Go to the ER first for uncontrolled bleeding, swelling that affects breathing or swallowing, a suspected jaw fracture, or any head injury – the medical emergency outranks the dental one. For injuries limited to the teeth and mouth, call us; a dental office can usually treat the tooth itself faster than an ER can.
Quick check-in, a gentle exam with X-rays when needed, pain relief first, clear options with costs before anything happens, and same-day treatment whenever possible.
One call gets you first-aid guidance, the soonest opening across four Corpus Christi offices – Saratoga, Alameda, Staples, and Calallen – and a team that is ready when you walk in.
(361) 992-9500
