If a patient has had a long-standing tooth infection, an abscess will typically develop as a result. Performing a root canal would be a poor treatment option for saving an abscessed tooth. Doing so can also lead to chronic low-grade infection in a patient's mouth. Many patients have a high tolerance for this kind of infection. However, those with autoimmune disorders will find themselves struggling to stay healthy as a consequence of a compromised root canal. Healthy or not, this kind of infection puts unnecessary stress on a person's body.