Root canal treatment can provide an effective means of saving a tooth that might otherwise require removal.   If the pulp (nerve) of a tooth becomes dead or infected, root canal treatment may be recommended.   An infected or dead tooth will show an infection at the root.   If the abscess is left untreated, you may experience severe discomfort and the infection could spread throughout the mouth.   By saving a tooth, their root structures help to maintain the overall structure of the jaw.