Root canal treatment may be recommended if your tooth is causing you pain because of: • tooth decay • gum disease • a chipped, broken or cracked tooth • dental abscess (a build-up of pus in the teeth or gums) Root canal treatment saves your original tooth. If you do not have the treatment, you may need to have the tooth removed. Crown (a cap that completely covers the tooth) may be needed if the tooth was badly infected. It usually takes 2 or more appointments to do the treatment. You may have a temporary filling between appointments before the permanent one is done. If you keep your teeth clean, your treated tooth should survive for a long time.