Coronal tooth discoloration and white mineral trioxide aggregate.

Introduction: This study assessed and characterized discoloration when white MTA (wMTA) was placed in the coronal aspect of the root canal ex vivo and the influence of red blood cells on this discoloration.

Methods: Canals were prepared from the apical aspect and restored with either wMTA + saline (n = 18), wMTA + blood (n = 18), or controls (n = 4 + 4) (blood or saline alone). Color was assessed according to the CIE L*a*b* color space using standardized digital photographs at 3 time points: baseline, day 1, and day 35.