Root Canal Takes Biden Out of Action

President Biden underwent a root canal after experiencing some dental pain—a procedure that took him out of commission for his 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 AP reports.

The White House said Biden was not placed under anesthesia for the procedure so the 25th Amendment, which would have temporarily transferred power to Vice President Kamala Harris, was not invoked, reports the New York Times. Biden had been 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. Harris instead attended in Biden's place. The White House moved two other events that were on Biden's schedule to Tuesday—a planned meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and a reception for chiefs of mission at the White House.

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