Temporary filling very close to nerve starts hurting months later - should you wait to see if antibiotics cure the pain or go ahead with root canal?

Root canal: You should not wait must see your dentist for root canal evaluation. Antibiotic is not a cure but it gets rid of the bacteria that cause the pain and if not get treated by root canal the infection will come back.

Temporary Filling: Good day; Temporaries are short term fixes for decay. They are not recommended to remain for months. Continuous dental pain is indicative of a dying pulp ( hyperemic pulp) requiring root canal therapy. Visit your dentist, confirm the diagnosis and continue with the necessary dental care.

Antibiotics: If you need antibiotics, you are infected, and if infected, you need root canal therapy. BTW, antibiotics are not painkillers... have your dentist test the tooth for vitality. Either the nerve is still vital or it's not.

See your Dentist: Your Dentist knows your situation best. Many issues. Temporary fillings are not meant to last for months. They begin to leak. Antibiotics are not pain killers, and will not "cure" an infected (abscessed) tooth, just control the infection until tooth can be physically treated. If tooth is abscessed you will need root canal Rx or extraction. See your Dentist ASAP.