A woman has a fixed partial denture from #6–11. Tooth #12 has caries. The bridge is loose and she has a persistent bad taste/odor. What should the dentist do FIRST?

Correct answer: A. Remove the prosthesis and examine the underlying teeth and tissues

• A. Correct. A loose bridge with odor signals leakage/caries/abutment failure underneath; the first step is to remove the prosthesis to inspect the abutments and tissues and establish a diagnosis.
• B. Antibiotics treat infection but do not diagnose or fix the underlying mechanical/decay problem.
• C. Tooth #12 is outside the loose bridge; addressing it first ignores the chief complaint.
• D. Adjusting without removing cannot reveal or treat the caries/leakage causing the loosening and odor.