The present study evaluated the incidence and causes of failure of conventional bridgework provided in the Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Hong Kong. Any bridge that utilized resin-bonded (Maryland) retainers was excluded from this study. All patients with bridges fitted between 1981 and 1987 were recalled for review, and 143 patients attended, a response rate of 77%. A total of 169 bridges were examined, their mean length of service being 35 months. Thirty-five bridges were deemed to have failed. The most frequent cause was endodontic, followed by loss of retention, then persistent pain and sensitivity. Failures of endodontic origin affected mostly anterior bridges, which could be attributed to the over-sized pulp of anterior teeth and the amount of tooth reduction required for the ceramometal retainer. All of the bridges that failed because of endodontic problems had had ceramometal retainers. Taking posterior bridges alone, the failure rate was 4.4% per year. From the evidence of this study, the replacement of the maxillary canine with a cantilever bridge appears to be contra-indicated.