LETTER TO THE EDITOR – JUNE 2001

I noticed with great interest your reference to a connection between atrial fibrillation and amalgam dental fillings. Many dentists are using titanium implants. Do you consider these safe?

LL, USA

Editor: I have not come across any reports to the effect that titanium implants are unsafe. There have been reports of people losing them because they failed to become attached to the bone. There is a trend though to use alloys of titanium (with cobalt or silver) because they are easier to fabricate. I have not seen any safety data on these newer alloys. The reason why mercury amalgams are such a problem is because mercury is a liquid at room temperature and evaporates from the amalgam fillings over time.