Is it normal/possible for a tooth that had a crown then a root canal to still experience pain or discomfort?

Generally speaking, you should not have pain after a root canal.  Their could be a couple of things going on here.  Number 1, there could be some food trapping between the crown and the gum line.  The solution is to return to your dentist to have this area checked and to receive additional cleaning instruction.Number 2, the crown could be riding a little high and causing jaw pain.  The solution is to have your dentist simply adjust the crown.Number 3, you may have an additional root that the original root canal could not reach.  The solution, have your dentist recheck the root canal.  If there is an additional root, your dentist may decide to redo the root canal or have a colleague redo it.Number 4, you may have an infection below your tooth.Good luck and I hope this helps. Follow me if you have
more questions.Sarah Thompson, DMDO Fallon, Illinois and St. Louis, MO

Teeth can still experience pain after a root canal due to the fact that the surrounding tissue is still alive. It is usually only pressure sensitivity. It's possible that the tooth next to your root canal is having problems and you are experiencing referred pain. It is also slightly possible that there is still some nerve tissue remaining in the tooth that is giving you problems. I would call my dentist and have it reevaluated.

Not all root canals are successful, so it is possible experience pain after a root canal.  There are multiple causes that may or may not be readily apparent now or when the root canal was performed, such as root fractures or additional canals that may not have been seen or cleaned out.  It is best to return to your dentist and have it checked out.