Recent research published in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry revealed that a group of cements changed the color behavior resulting in greater teeth darkening over time.
Lucas Santos de Jesus and colleagues from the Department of Dentistry, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil conducted the present study with the sole objective to assess the discoloration of teeth treated with the different phases of calcium aluminate cement (CAC), in comparison with the conventional CAC and mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA).
The authors prepared a total sample of fifty bovine incisors. All the samples were filled. Two millimeters of the filling was removed to fabricate a cervical plug with the following cements (n=10): CA(CaO.Al2O3); CA2(CaO.2Al2O3); C12A7(12CaO.7Al2O3); CAC and MTA.
The initial color measurement was performed and after 7, 15, 30, 45, 90, 180, and 365 days new color measurements were performed to determine the color (ΔE00), lightness (ΔL'), chroma (ΔC'), hue differences (ΔH'), and the whiteness index (WID).
The following key findings were brought out-
a. ΔE00 was significant for groups (p = 0.036) and periods (p < 0.05).
b. The greater ΔE00 was observed after 365 days for CAC (12.8). C12A7 (7.2) had the smallest ΔE00. ΔL' and ΔC' were significant for groups and periods (p < 0.05).
c. ΔH' was significant for periods (p < 0.05).
d. After 365 days, significant reduction in lightness was observed for all groups.
e. For CA, CA2, CAC, and MTA groups, the WID values decreased over time (p < 0.05).
Therefore, the authors concluded that "The tested cements changed the color behavior of the samples, resulting in greater teeth darkening over time."
However, there is no long‐term study assessing the discoloration induced by the different phases of calcium aluminate cement (CAC), and further warranted research is much needed to assess the different phases of a calcium aluminate cement leading to the development of tooth discolouration.