Root Canal 1 Year Ago.

I second the suggestion to go and see an endodontist for a second opinion. Sometimes they miss an accessory canal or they did not go all the way to the end of the canal. If that is the case they can go back and fix the problem. I have even seen them remove a tooth so they can go from the root and then re-implant the tooth and the patient does great and the tooth is saved.(this is with an endodontist working with an oral surgeon)
When a tooth is damaged, the nerve dies. Root canal treatment removes the dead nerve tissue and seals the empty root canal space to prevent an infection (abcess, swelling) from the dead nerve tissue that would otherwise rot within the canal! RCT is not always successful, so you can still get an abcess or tender swelling. Antibiotics may settle this. Sometimes re-doing the RCT or an apicectomy is needed.
Ocassionally there is a reaction to a chronic infection or the RCT (some material may extrude out of the root tip) with bone formation and the swelling is hard but not painful!

No reason to have an antibiotic unless it's infected and if it is, you would definitly know. It sounds to me, like it might be pain from sinus problems. A lot of the time if you have sinus pressure, it can make the teeth that have been worked on, or need work done, hurt.

I have issues with all 3 root canals I've had. I'm having all retreated by an endodontist. His name is Dr. Hamilton, at Dallas Endodontics. Sometimes the tooth just doesn't respond to the first treatment as we hope. I DON'T want to lose any teeth, so this is worth it to me.
Also, I had a treatment started last week and have had no pain! Best wishes

I am a dental hygienist and agree with the previous posts.

So glad to hear your responses! I too have this pain. I actually had it so bad lately that it had a big puss nodule on the gum that popped but my xrays show no infection?? It was also a upper left molar. Guess I'll be going back.

See an endodontist (root canal specialist) for a second opinion. There could be accessory canal that was missed. Was the tooth crowned? Has ur bite been checked to make sure you aren't hitting too hard on that tooth. Did the hygienist or dentist check for pocketing around the tooth, numbers should be less than 3 at your last maintenance appointment. Have you ever been told you had periodontal disease, had scaling and root planing or periodontal treatment done? Sometimes a periodontal abscess can feel similiar to what you are talkin about and require different treatment. Have another set of eyes take a look!