Pressure pain on tooth that had a root canal and crown put on 5 years ago, what could the cause of the pain? (photos)

Hello and thank you for your question. The best way to answer this is with an in-person evaluation. There can be various reasons for the pain you describe including infection or excessive clenching. While it is possible to adjust crowns, if necessary, too much adjustment can weaken the integrity of the crown which can lead to future problems.  I recommend following up with your Dentist or consulting a Prosthodontist. A Prosthodontist is a dental specialist who has advanced training in restoring and replacing teeth and can create a customized treatment using the latest techniques in dental crowns.

Hi:You should have your dentist take an X-ray of the tooth to evaluate for infection and clenching and grinding pressure on the tooth.Best,Dr. Maddahi

After a root canal the nerve of the tooth should be removed and thus not feel any pain. However the ligament around the tooth is innervated and can still sense pressure. There are two possible causes to your discomfort. First could be caused by a leaking crown or re-infected root. This can happen over time if any bacteria make its way back into the end of the tooth. If this is the cause the ligament will become inflamed and the treatment would be to possibly re-do the root canal or remove the end of the root. The next scenario could be from the tooth hitting too hard from grinding or trauma. If the tooth is taking too much pressure it will also inflame the ligament and result in pain when you bite. The treatment for this would be an adjustment of the crown and over the counter non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs. Since this is an upper tooth the dentist should also rule out and sinus pathology as sometimes allergies or sinus infections can also mimic tooth pain. Hope this helps out!