Should I try to have my bridge removed & reglued?

I have a top front bridge spanning from eye tooth to eye tooth - 6
teeth, with 1 anchor tooth on the right side and two anchor teeth on
the left side holding 3 replacement teeth in the middle. I noticed for
the last week or so, that the bridge feels funny on the side with just
1 real tooth and believed the brige had come loose on that side - which
my dentist confirmed today.

I'm 57 years old and have had a bridge since my mid-20's - this bridge
is the second one and is about 12 years old. Several times during the
"life" of the first bridge, it came loose on one side, and my former
dentists tapped it off and re-glued it. I "thought" that was what was
going to happen today.

At first, my dentist (whom I have been going to since shortly after I
got this bridge) told me it wouldn't be possible to salvage the bridge.
When I asked him about removing and re-glueing it (remembering this
from the past), he told me that because one tooth (next to the eye
tooth on the left side of the bridge) had a root canal done about 18
months ago, it is possible that the tooth will break off if he tries to
tap-off the bridge. He said he prefers to cut the bridge off and then
start anew or have me get 3 implants (and, one assumes, 3 new crowns).
He said he would try to remove and reglue it if I want him to.

He's letting me make the decision which I feel ill-equipped to do. On
one hand, if we can save the bridge, it is a lot less money, time,
trouble, etc.... OTOH, if he tries to remove it and my root canal tooth
pulls out or breaks off, I'll be in worse shape than if I tell him to
cut the bridge off.

I tentatively told his office that I want him to try to remove and
reglue the bridge and they set up my next appointment for 11/16 - two
weeks from now. Should I try to loosen the other side of the bridge by
chewing, or pulling, wiggling it, etc during the next two weeks? Am I
foolish to try to avoid having the bridge cut off....or do you think
there is a good chance of success?

I appreciate any advice and/or experiences this group has to offer.
Thanks.

.

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