Rapper Lil Wayne, right, leaves Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday after sentencing was postponed. (Louis Lanzano/Associated Press)

Rapper Lil Wayne escaped going to jail on Tuesday, but is headed for a dental chair.

A New York Supreme Court judge agreed to put off sentencing on a weapons charge until March so the singer could finish a series of dental surgeries.

The rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter, pleaded guilty in October to attempted criminal possession of a weapon. Police had found a loaded .40-calibre semiautomatic gun on his tour bus in July 2007 after a Manhattan concert.

He has struck a plea bargain with prosecutors that could see him spend up to one year in jail. He must reappear in court March 2 for sentencing.

His defence lawyer, Stacey Richman, said Carter had meant to finish his dental surgery before Tuesday's court appearance, but his dentist had been out of the country doing charitable work.

Lil Wayne performed at the Grammy Awards ceremony on Jan. 31 and released the album, Rebirth on Feb. 2. He also participated in recording the We Are the World fundraising song for Haiti.