I had root canal done on one tooth and they filled it with silver (military) its been 11 yrs it looks black and slight throbbing?

Bite/retreat??: Black = staining and the alloy casting through the tooth as it becomes more worn. throbbing: 1) unknown 2) if upper tooth = could be sinus related 3) root canal failure?? or unfound root 4) bite trauma (clenching/grinding) Please have evaluated but I'd start with 600mg Ibuprofen to rule out #2, #4 above and then monitor.

Needs Evaluation: A throbbing tooth needs to be evaluated. It could mean a fracture, an infection, periodontal issues, or even a problem with your occlusion. The sooner it is examined the sooner it can be treated. All the best...

See an Endodontist: An endodontist is a dentist who has completed a 2 or 3 year specialty program beyond dental school that focuses on complicate root canal therapy.

Amalgam: Silver fillings will tarnish over time and look black. That concerns me less than the throbbing that indicates recurrent decay/abscess and/or fracture. Important that you see Dentist ASAP. The longer you wait, the greater the threat to the tooth and surrounding tissues. Please see Dentist immediately.

Possible fracture: For many years root canal access holes and chambers were filled with Amalgam (silver). Unfortunately the silver does not bond to the walls (just occupies the space in the middle) so the remaining tooth is vulnerable to fractures and leakage between the filling and the remaining tooth causing a reinfection of the tooth. Retreat or extract and get an implant.