Most people do not realize this, but your teeth are supposed to last you a lifetime. It is only because of poor oral hygiene and neglecting to treat decayed or damaged teeth that one ends up losing teeth.
If a tooth has developed an infection to such an extent that its inner region or pulp is also infected, then root canal treatment is the normally prescribed procedure.
Root canal is usually associated with pain and because of that you may feel apprehensive if your dentist suggests the treatment. But the truth is that root canal treatment is a relatively routine procedure and you need not worry about it at all. The procedure is also conducted under local anaesthesia, so you would not even feel the pain. Of course there will be some soreness after the procedure, but it can be easily managed with pain killers.