Repairing & Protecting Smiles After Dental Accidents
Dental trauma is any injury to the teeth, gums, or mouth from a fall, sports impact, or accident – from small chips to fractured, loosened, or knocked-out teeth. Most injuries can be treated: chips are smoothed or bonded, bigger breaks restored with crowns, displaced teeth stabilized, and injured teeth monitored as they heal. Kennedy Dental Care treats children's dental injuries at all four Corpus Christi offices.
Small enamel chips are often simply smoothed; larger chips are rebuilt with tooth-colored bonding; deep fractures that reach the inner tooth need prompt evaluation and stronger restoration.
A tooth pushed out of position, or into the gum, needs urgent evaluation and often stabilization so it can heal in the right place.
A knocked-out permanent tooth can sometimes be saved when it is reinserted quickly – the first-aid steps live on our Emergency page. A knocked-out baby tooth is never reinserted; instead we examine the area and protect the adult tooth developing underneath.
A tooth can look fine above the gum while the root below is cracked – which is why injuries deserve an exam and an X-ray even when everything “looks okay.”
Cuts to lips, gums, and cheeks are cleaned and treated to heal well and stay infection-free.
Most injured teeth can be repaired – and the follow-up is where the healing story continues.
Yes, almost always. Tiny chips are often just smoothed so nothing feels sharp; bigger chips are rebuilt with tooth-colored bonding that blends right in; and a badly broken baby tooth can be restored with a crown.
What matters is the exam: we check how deep the chip goes and whether the inner tooth is affected, then match the fix to the damage – often in a single visit.
Tooth-colored bonding rebuilds chips seamlessly.
Crowns restore bigger breaks and protect weakened teeth.
Stabilization holds a displaced tooth in position while it heals and when a tooth truly cannot be saved, gentle extraction with a plan for the space comes next.
Digital X-rays reveal the damage the eye cannot see, and every plan starts with a clear explanation and estimate.
Injured teeth have a story that continues after the visit – which is why follow-up matters. Over the weeks and months after trauma we may re-check and re-X-ray the tooth to confirm it is healing well.
At home, watch for the signs that deserve a call: a tooth darkening or turning gray (a common after-effect of trauma that needs evaluation – sometimes it resolves, sometimes the tooth needs treatment), new or returning pain, gum swelling or a pimple-like bump near the tooth, or increasing looseness. None of these means panic; all of them mean call us.
Kids fall. Kids collide. Kids discover that coffee tables do not move. Since 1969, Kennedy Dental Care has been putting Coastal Bend smiles back together after playground tumbles, bike wrecks, and sports impacts – and the good news we get to deliver most days is that injured teeth can usually be repaired, and injured kids bounce back fast.
55+
Years serving the Coastal Bend
04
Convenient locations
4.9★
Average patient rating
The single best injury-prevention tool for young athletes is a mouthguard – and we offer custom-fitted sports mouthguards, made for your child's mouth, that are comfortable and protect better than store-bought versions. (They're made to work better with braces, too.) Beyond sports: no chewing ice or pens, scissors instead of teeth for packaging, and helmets where helmets belong. Ask about a custom mouthguard at any visit.
Many insurance plans cover treatment for dental injuries, and we accept most insurance plans, as well as Medicaid and CHIP. Membership plan families receive 25% off procedures – and the plan includes an emergency exam each year. You approve the estimate before treatment.
Book an AppointmentThey can. The adult tooth develops close beneath the baby tooth's roots, which is exactly why injured baby teeth deserve an exam even when they seem fine, and why we never reinsert a knocked-out baby tooth.
With evaluation and monitoring, most kids' adult teeth arrive right on schedule.
A team that repairs kids' teeth every week.
Steady, reassuring treatment when your child is shaken – with the full sedation ladder in-house when a repair needs it.
Made in-house to prevent round two.
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! 🤍”
Yes, almost always. Small chips are smoothed, larger ones are rebuilt with tooth-colored bonding, and badly broken baby teeth are restored with crowns. The exam tells us how deep the damage goes and matches the fix to it.
Darkening is a common after-effect of dental trauma and deserves an evaluation: sometimes the tooth recovers on its own, and sometimes it needs treatment to stay healthy. Call us and we will take a look.
Head to our Emergency Dentistry page for the step-by-step first aid – or call (361) 992-9500 right away. The short version: permanent teeth may be saved with fast action; baby teeth are never reinserted.
They can, since the adult tooth develops just beneath, which is why injured baby teeth deserve an exam even when they look fine. With monitoring, most adult teeth arrive perfectly on schedule.
A custom-fitted mouthguard is made for your child's mouth – it fits better, protects better, and stays in place, and it can be made to work with braces. We make them in-house; ask at any visit.
Many plans cover injury treatment, and we accept most insurance plans as well as Medicaid and CHIP. Membership families get 25% off procedures plus an included emergency exam each year.
Whether the injury happened an hour ago or last month, bring it to us for a clear exam, an honest plan, and a repair that lets your child get back to being a kid. Connect with any one of our four Corpus Christi offices.
(361) 992-9500
