Biden undergoes root canal, will miss collegiate athletics event and NATO meeting at White House
President Joe Biden is undergoing a root canal after experiencing some dental pain – a procedure that will take him out of commission for at least one public event on Monday.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden underwent a root canal after experiencing some dental pain – a procedure that took him out of commission at least for a pair of public events on Monday.
Biden’s personal physician, Kevin O’Connor, said in a memo released by the White House that Biden reported the pain in his lower right premolar on Sunday. The president had an initial root canal that day, and he “tolerated the procedure well” with no complications, O’Connor said.
On Monday morning, Biden had “further discomfort” in his mouth, which O’Connor said was expected. An endodontal specialty team from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center was completing Biden’s root canal at the White House.
The White House said Biden was not placed under anesthesia for the procedure.
He was scheduled to appear at College Athlete Day on the South Lawn at the White House, which hosts NCAA champions from various men’s and women’s sports from the 2022-2023 season. Vice President Kamala Harris instead attended in Biden’s place, the White House said.
Biden also rescheduled a planned meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to Tuesday while he recovers from the procedure. The White House hasn’t said whether Biden would be well enough to host a planned reception for chiefs of mission at the White House on Monday evening.