President Joe Biden had a root-canal procedure after experiencing tooth pain, forcing him to postpone a Monday meeting with the leader of NATO and other White House events.
(Bloomberg) — President Joe Biden had a root-canal procedure after experiencing tooth pain, forcing him to postpone a Monday meeting with the leader of NATO and other White House events.
“The procedure has been successfully completed,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a Monday afternoon briefing. Biden “is doing just fine” and will work in the White House residence in the afternoon, she added.
Biden on Sunday reported discomfort in his lower right premolar, presidential physician Kevin O’Connor wrote in a letter released earlier Monday. Dentists from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center performed the initial procedure later Sunday. Biden experienced “further discomfort this morning” as expected, the doctor said, ahead of the Monday procedure.
Biden did not receive general anesthesia and therefore did not transfer power to Vice President Kamala Harris, Jean-Pierre said. He did get local anesthesia.
The president was due to meet Monday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and host a reception for chiefs of mission. Those events will now take place Tuesday, the White House said.
Harris took Biden’s place hosting an event for college athletes Monday morning on the South Lawn of the White House.
(Updates to add completion of root canal procedure)
More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
©2023 Bloomberg L.P.