Objective: To determine the reasons for root canal treatment carried out in the department of Restorative Dentistry of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and the College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria between July 2006 and June 2010. Material and Method: This is a longitudinal prospective study or treatment of patients to collate reasons given for root canal treatment. This was done by obtaining data directly from the patient during clerking which also include demographic data such as gender, age, occupation and other relevant information. Results:The number of patients was 320 but there were 372 teeth treated for root canal treatment. 287 had one root canal treatment done, while 20 patients had 2 root canal treatment, 8 had 3 root canal treatment done, 5 patient had more than 3 root canal treatment. First molars were the most frequently treated teeth with 141 teeth treated while the mandible had greater number of first molar treated (90). 2nd Molar are equally distributed in the arches formed and they formed second largest of treated teeth while the central incisors had 61 cases with the maxilla the contributing 91% for the root canal treatment. Caries and irreversible pupils were the commonest reason given for carrying out root canal treatment (53.2%) while acute dento-alveolar abscess came a distant second with 13.2%. Conclusion: Irreversible pulpitis/caries with its sequelae is the most common reasons given for root canal treatment.