On Monday, President Joe Biden had to reschedule his entire day due to a “sudden” root canal procedure.
According to a statement from the White House’s Physician to the President, Kevin O’Connor, the President experienced discomfort in his lower right premolar. After checks, it was decided he would need a second round of dental treatment.
The news came as a surprise to many, as Biden’s schedule was completely rearranged. He was supposed to give a speech to celebrate the NCAA championship teams for the 2022–2023 season, but Vice President Kamala Harris has taken his place instead.
Biden was going to have a bilateral meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and had a reception for the Chiefs of Mission, all of which has had to be moved for the next day.
The White House was keen to point out that, on this occasion, the 25th Amendment is not being invoked. The Amendment allows for the president to temporarily step aside when they are incapacitated in any way, and allows Vice President Kamala Harris to take up presidential duties.
This is in keeping with Commissioner O’Connor’s statement on Sunday, that he expected Biden to take a “limited role” in government affairs while the second part of the root canal was taking place.
The last time Biden needed to go under anesthesia was in February, when he had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest.
Since doctors are still determining the extent of the discomfort in Biden’s tooth, it’s unclear how long he’ll be taking it easy to get the issue resolved.
Though a root canal isn’t usually classified as a medical emergency, it does require attention and relatively speedy treatment.
It also shows the importance of taking even the smallest of aches and pains seriously– especially when it comes to dealing with the President of the United States. Having had the root canal procedure, the President is sure to receive any necessary aftercare or medical information he needs to relieve the discomfort.
While Biden is likely to take the necessary time to recover, it serves to remind us all of the importance of listening to our bodies and taking the issues seriously– no matter how seemingly insignificant.
