root retreatment or not?

Recently I started having a dull biting pain in my rear teeth #3.  Best described as very tender to biting which initiated the dull pain.  This tooth had previously been treated with a root canal and crown.   Dentist x-rayed and said she didn't see anything and said that it was likely a root that had not been originally identified and is now causing the condition.  She made an appointment with an orthodontist ( 3 weeks later) and sent me on my way without any antibiotics.  Said options would be retreatment or an implant.  A day or two latter the tooth has quit hurting, no sensitivity or pain at all.  If there was an issue (abscess) wouldn't that have been observed by the xray.  I concerned that someone may want to do considerable work for something that may not be an issue at all.  How can I verify.
Thanks your your comments in advance.

[turkee23]

yes an abcess (abscess) would have shown on an xray, but if you had the hidden root they sometime do not show up on xrays.... sometime they could open the tooth and when they thought you had 3 canals in that tooth you really have 4 maybe 5 .....it is possible..... can you get another opinion?... just go to another dentist and get xrays... or a dental school in your area are usually willing to do xrays on the public for practice.....if the dentist reffered you to a specialtist, then i hope they sent you to see a endodontist, a orthodontist helps get your teeth in line with your mid line aka braces... so make sure they are sending you to the right place

[lynn117]

if the tooth is crowned missed canals will not show up on an xray.

[Cycl3Chick]

crowns do not cover up the roots of the tooth, which would be where the pulp canals are.  It could be a hidden root, or you could still have necrotic pulp in the canals.  I would give it a few weeks if the pain went away because it could always be referred from another tooth.  I would make sure that they pulp test all the teeth in that quadrant of the mouth and use the same teeth on the other side of your mouth as reference.  This should be routine at the endodontist.  good luck :)

[sijanise]

Im like you I have a tooth that has a root canal and a crown and im having issues. Ive got a "pressure" senstation. the tooth throbs but not painful throbbing just the heartbeat feeling kind. it also kinda hurts to bite on it, more dull ache then anything. but it also feel painful when i swallow or touch it or the cheek on the outside. My dds said the root canal looked fine but a week after i had it i had major pain and went on penicllin and prednisone. I went off the meds and a week later the pain is starting to return,. the dds insist its not a failed root canal and that it will settle down but ive had 3 and never had issue with any of them. Im making an apt to get a 2nd oppinion with a endonist.

even if youre is feeling better i would let and endo look at it cus honey if they did miss a canal and the sucker decides to flare up like mine did, there is no pain like it. I almost dug the tooth out of my head at one point with my fingernail, no kidding it hurt that bad! its best to make sure its done right...thats why im getting a 2nd view. I wont be at peace until i have a new endo tell me everything it normal