Pain in tooth after root canal permanent filling

I recently had a root canal.  All went well (except for a very sore jaw that you helped me with earlier).  However, my dentist wanted to wait 1 week after the root canal to place the permanent filling in the crown.  During that time I had no pain, was able to chew on that side, etc.  The permanent filling was placed on Thursday and by Monday I wasn't able to put any pressure on my tooth at all. Even flossing the teeth around it was painful.  Interestingly, right after the initial root canal treatment, I developed a very bad sore throat and cold that turned into a sinus infection.  The permanent filling was placed during this time.  I saw my internist who put me on Augmentin and PhenaVent for the sinus infection.  Because of the severe pain in my tooth (the left last lower molar), I saw my doctor on the Monday the pain started.  She thought that maybe the filling was too high and adjusted my bite and thought that should fix it.  By Wednesday, it was horrible.  I went back in and she "opened" up the tooth and took out the permanent filling and replaced it with a temporary.  She thought that maybe somehow my sinus infection was causing a problem.  Since she did that two days ago my pain level has gone from 10 (worst) to about 2-3.  The plan is for me to see her again on Monday.  My two questions:  1)  how likely is it that the sinus infection is causing a problem and 2) why would there be such a difference between a permanent and temporary filling?

Thanks again!

[Jerome Bogin, D.D.S.]

I don't think there should be any difference between the fillings unless the permanent filling was high. There is no relation between the sinus and a lower tooth. It is possible that there is an infection that has not cleared up and the antibiotics that your MD gave you has helped the tooth.