Helping Patients Relax for a Stress-Free Dental Experience
Oral conscious sedation is a prescribed medication your child takes before the visit, providing deeper relaxation than laughing gas while keeping them awake and responsive. Many children feel so calm that they remember little of the appointment afterward, which, for an anxious child, is often exactly the point. Available at all four Kennedy Dental Care offices in Corpus Christi.
We review your child's health history to confirm oral sedation is the right fit, and the medication is dosed for your child's age and weight. You receive clear instructions ahead of time – including when to give the medication and any eating and drinking guidelines – and a parent brings a child to and from the appointment.
Your child feels deeply relaxed but stays awake and able to respond. Time seems to pass quickly, and we monitor your child's comfort and vital signs throughout. Nitrous oxide is sometimes paired with oral sedation for additional calm.
Drowsiness lasts a few hours, so plan a quiet day at home – no school until tomorrow. Most children are back to normal the next morning.
This service's two defining questions – memory and safety – answered honestly.
Often, very little – and for anxious kids, that is one of oral sedation's kindest features. Children stay awake and cooperative during treatment, but the medication's relaxing effect means the visit tends to blur pleasantly.
Many parents tell us their child's memory of “the big appointment” is mostly the movie on the way home.
Oral conscious sedation is a well-established option when it is prescribed and supervised by trained professionals. At Kennedy Dental Care, safety is built into each step: your child's health history is evaluated first, the dose is customized to their age and weight, and your child is monitored throughout the visit.
Some kids need more than a nose mask and a gentle voice – and that is what oral conscious sedation is for. It gives anxious children, kids with strong gag reflexes, and patients facing longer treatment a deeply relaxed visit without going fully to sleep. Since 1969, families across Corpus Christi, Portland, TX, Annaville, Flour Bluff, and Robstown have trusted our team to match the comfort level to the child – and this is the middle of our sedation ladder, for the kids who need real help but not general anesthesia.
55+
Years serving the Coastal Bend
04
Convenient locations
4.9★
Average patient rating
For the deepest needs – very young children with extensive treatment or kids for whom awake care is not realistic – general anesthesia is the next rung, and your dentist will tell you honestly which fits.
Costs depend on the treatment being completed, and some insurance plans cover oral sedation for children. We accept most insurance plans, as well as Medicaid and CHIP, verify your benefits before the visit, and offer CareCredit and Cherry financing.
Book an AppointmentBoard-certified pediatric dentists who use oral sedation regularly – dosed for kids, monitored for kids.
If your child needs less, nitrous is here; if more, general anesthesia is too – at all four locations.
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 takes a prescribed medication before the visit, dosed for their age and weight. They stay awake but deeply relaxed while we complete treatment and monitor them throughout, then rest at home for a few hours afterward.
Often very little. Children stay awake and responsive, but the visit tends to blur. For anxious kids, that gentle forgetting is one of oral sedation's kindest features.
It is a well-established option when prescribed and supervised by trained professionals – with your child's health history evaluated first, the dose customized to age and weight, and monitoring throughout the visit.
The relaxed, drowsy feeling can last four to six hours, so plan a quiet day at home. Most kids are back to normal by the next morning.
There may be eating and drinking guidelines before the appointment. We provide detailed instructions when the visit is scheduled, so you will know exactly what to do.
Laughing gas is milder and wears off in minutes; oral sedation is deeper and lasts hours. Our Sedation Dentistry page compares all three options side by side, and your dentist will recommend the level that fits your child.
If dental visits are genuinely hard for your child, oral conscious sedation may be the middle path that makes care possible – relaxed, gentle, and closely watched. Ask us about it at any of our four Corpus Christi offices.
(361) 992-9500
