Gentle, Expert Care When a Tooth Needs to Be Removed
We save teeth whenever we can with extraction being the last resort, recommended only when a tooth cannot be repaired or is causing bigger problems. Among them: severe decay beyond a filling or crown, infection, a baby tooth that will not let go and is blocking the adult tooth, damage from injury, or crowding before orthodontic treatment. When removal is the answer, it is done gently, with numbing and the full range of sedation options, at all four Kennedy Dental Care offices.
We always do our best to save the tooth first, and if a tooth does need to come out, we provide honest answers about comfort, braces, and wisdom teeth.
Decay beyond repair – when a filling or crown cannot save the tooth.
Infection – removing the tooth stops infection from spreading when it cannot be resolved otherwise.
An over-retained baby tooth – sometimes a baby tooth refuses to fall out while the adult tooth is arriving; a quick, gentle removal clears the path.
Damage from injury – teeth broken beyond restoring.
Crowding before braces – planned with orthodontics.
The honest answer: your child should feel pressure and wiggling, not pain. The area is fully numbed first, and baby teeth with naturally short or dissolving roots often come out remarkably easily. Nitrous oxide keeps nervous kids relaxed, and deeper sedation is available for anxious children or bigger cases.
And for the record: if a baby tooth is simply loose on schedule, we usually let nature do the job for free.
Wisdom teeth – the third molars arriving in the late teens – often lack the room to come in well. When they are impacted, crowding other teeth, causing pain, or at risk of infection, removal is frequently the recommendation, decided case by case with an exam and X-rays.
We evaluate teens promptly, and when extraction is the answer we schedule it quickly – including the same day in some cases. Straightforward removals are simple extractions; impacted teeth may need a surgical approach with sedation or general anesthesia, all available in-house.
No parent wants to hear “the tooth needs to come out” – so when we say it, we explain exactly why, what the alternatives were, and how we will keep your child comfortable. Since 1969, families across Corpus Christi, Portland, TX, Annaville, Flour Bluff, and Robstown have trusted Kennedy Dental Care for gentle extractions – from wiggly baby teeth that overstayed their welcome to teens' wisdom teeth.
55+
Years serving the Coastal Bend
04
Convenient locations
4.9★
Average patient rating
Proper aftercare is essential for a smooth recovery. Here are some important guidelines:
An exam and digital X-rays confirm the plan. The area is fully numbed, with sedation added when it helps. The tooth is removed gently, and you leave with gauze in place and clear aftercare instructions. Most kids are back to normal activities within a day or two, depending on the extraction.
Sometimes there simply is not room for every tooth. When crowding stands in the way of a healthy bite, Dr. Tim, our residency-trained orthodontist, and your child's pediatric dentist plan together – deciding which teeth, when, and how it fits the orthodontic timeline.
It is one of the quiet advantages of pediatric dentistry and orthodontics under one roof: the extraction and the braces plan are never strangers.
Extractions are core dental care, and most insurance plans cover them – we accept most insurance plans, as well as Medicaid and CHIP, membership plan families receive 25% off procedures, and you approve the estimate before treatment. CareCredit and Cherry financing are available.
Book an AppointmentWhen a baby molar comes out early, the neighboring teeth can drift into the empty space – crowding out the adult tooth meant to arrive there. A small appliance called a space maintainer holds the spot open until the permanent tooth is ready. If your child's extraction calls for one, your dentist will explain it as part of the plan – it is one of the most important little devices in pediatric dentistry.
Book an Appointment
Extraction only when it is genuinely the answer.
With the full sedation ladder at every office.
Dr. Tim coordinates orthodontic extractions right in our practice.
Saratoga, Alameda, Staples, and Calallen.
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! 🤍”
Your child feels pressure, not pain. The area is fully numbed, baby teeth often come out easily, and nitrous oxide or deeper sedation is available for nervous kids.
When they are impacted, crowding other teeth, causing pain, or at risk of infection – decided case by case with an exam and X-rays, usually in the late teens. We evaluate promptly and schedule quickly, including same-day in some cases.
When there is not enough room for every tooth, removing selected teeth creates the space a healthy bite needs. Dr. Tim and your child's dentist plan it together as part of the orthodontic timeline.
Soft foods for the first few days – yogurt, applesauce, mashed potatoes, soup – and nothing through a straw, since suction can disturb healing. Normal eating returns as comfort allows.
A small appliance that holds the gap open when a baby molar is lost early, so neighboring teeth cannot drift into the space meant for the adult tooth.
Most plans cover them, and we accept most insurance plans as well as Medicaid and CHIP. Membership families get 25% off procedures, and you approve the estimate first.
If a tooth is causing trouble – or another dentist has recommended pulling one – bring it to us. You will get an honest evaluation, every alternative considered, and gentle care if removal really is the answer. Connect with us at any of our Corpus Christi offices.
(361) 992-9500
