To my surprise the dentist indicated that he, too, wasn't completely happy with the way the bridge fit and the hasty decay that was attacking exposed parts of my teeth. I would pay for the root canal, the post and the bridge prep; he would provide a new bridge at no extra charge.
I agreed, no question about it. These teeth -- 28, 29, 30 -- had been bothering and hurting for months. More than a year actually. He finished the root canal, made the bridge impressions and gave me a temporary guaranteed not to break as the one did last Christmas. I'll get the new bridge in January.