The objective of root canal treatment is to save your teeth; if the condition is left untreated, the tooth will eventually need to be removed. If you wish, you can fill the gap with an implant or denture – but the natural tooth is always preferable in terms of functionality. Act sooner and not only do you get to keep your teeth but you will save yourself pain along the way: if the pulp inside the root becomes inflamed, an abscess may form and this can become extremely painful.