A female patient has a fixed bridge spanning from the upper right canine to the upper left lateral incisor. She reports an open margin with exposed metal on the canine, there is caries on the canine abutment, and the bridge is loose. What should you do FIRST?

Correct answer: C. Remove the bridge

• A. Recementing traps active caries beneath a faulty margin and ignores the loose, failed restoration.
• B. Fluoride and recall do nothing for a loose bridge with frank caries under a defective margin.
• C. Correct. With an open/defective margin, caries on the abutment, AND a loose restoration, the bridge has failed. You must remove it to access and assess the underlying tooth before any definitive treatment.
• D. A desensitizer addresses none of the actual problems (caries, open margin, loss of retention).