Robia Ghafoor

• FCPS Operative Dentistry
• Managing Director at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi

Bone grafting with simultaneous implant placement using the novel bone ring technique was a procedure introduced with the intention of three-dimensional bone augmentation with simultaneous implant placement in both maxilla and mandible. A ring-shaped bone is placed in the socket, which is secured by an implant placed through the ring. The current n...

Objective: To compare shaping ability of ProTaper Next (PTN) & WaveOne Gold (WOG) file systems in curved resin blocks. Methods: 68 resin blocks were divided into two groups (n = 34), shaped, photographed, and analyzed: Group 1-PTN; Group 2-WOG. Superimposition of pre-and post-instrumentation images was done using Adobe Photoshop software. Thirteen...

Objectives: The aim of the review is to evaluate the existing precision of artificial intelligence (AI) in detecting Marginal Bone Loss (MBL) around prosthetic crowns using 2-Dimentional radiographs. It also summarises the recent advances and future challenges associated to their clinical application. Methodology: A literature survey of electron...

Tele-dentistry encompasses all sorts of digital technologies that involve the exchange of patient’s clinical data from a distant site for the provision of dental health care. Tele-dentistry has emerged from the concept of telemedicine, which has been in practice since the 19th century. In recent times, an upsurge in the digital technologies was not...

We present a case of nasopalatine duct cyst in a 35-year-old female. The cyst was diagnosed based on the presence of only one clinical symptom and no obvious clinical signs, which is a relatively rare occurrence. However, the radiographic and histological presentation of this lesion was typical of a nasopalatine duct cyst. Therefore, this case repo...

Statement of problem. The development of robotic computer assisted implant surgery (r-CAIS) offers advantages, but how the positional accuracy of r-CAIS compares with other forms of guided implant surgery remains unclear. Purpose. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the positional accuracy of r-CAIS and to com...

For dentists who were trained without computers and planning software, the introduction of any sort of digital technology can be met with reservation. Clinicians had to weigh the benefits of a new technique versus the cost and time involved in making it an effective investment. In low- and middle-income countries, the introduction of guided implant...

Objectives: The aim of the review is to present the currently applied tissue regeneration through stem cells technology in regenerative endodontics. This review also summarises the various preclinical models used for the evaluation of stem cell-based therapies, their limitations, recent advances and challenges related to clinical applications of h...

Direct pulp capping has been established as a more conservative alternative to root canal therapy, especially in case of an iatrogenic or traumatic exposure of the dental pulp. However, recent literature focuses on regeneration therapies to develop a physiological dentin barrier. The process of tissue regeneration through stem cell therapy involves...

Objective: To evaluate variations in the shape, diameter, length and width of the nasopalatine canal along with the width of the buccal cortical bone anterior to it, using cone beam computed tomography imaging. Methods: The retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from September to October...

Purpose: To determine and compare the frequency of contamination on different sites of healing abutments after sterilization with Phloxine B dye on unused and used healing abutments after sterilization. Materials & methods: A total of 60 healing abutments were divided into two test groups: (1) used and sterilized and (2) a control group (unused)...

Objective To compare the effect of different endodontic access cavities on fracture toughness of extracted endodontically treated human teeth. Data/sources An electronic literature search was performed in seven databases as well as hand search until September 2020. Risk-of-bias tool was used to evaluate the quality of included studies. Random effec...

With advancement in the endodontic technology there is a quest to introduce root canal instruments showing superior performance by removing minimum amount of sound root dentine and retaining the original shape of the root canal. Objective: To compare the changes in the width of simulated curved canals prepared with ProFile and ProTaper rotary syste...

Objective: To radiographically determine the mental foramen position, its distance to the nearest apex and the prevalence of anterior loop of mandibular nerve using cone-beam computed tomography scans. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January to June 2020, and comprised cone-beam...

The direct operating microscope has completely revolutionized the field of endodontics, leading to increased success in both non-surgical and surgical cases. In low- and middle-income countries, microsurgical endodontics is still a developing field and procedures that fall within this category employ higher magnification. Currently, less than 25% o...

Restoration of aesthetics is one the major patients' concern in dentistry which may be disrupted due to tooth-loss secondary to trauma, or as part of orthodontic treatment or periodontal problem. A number of treatment options are available for the replacement of teeth, but they may be expensive, and time-consuming, involving artificial teeth. For i...

Objectives: To evaluate the depth of cure in smart dentin replacement bulkfill composite resins polymerized by constant, pulse and ramped light-emitting diode curing modes. Methods: The in vitro experimental study was conducted in November and December 2019 at the dental clinics of Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised of cylindri...

Objective: To radiographically evaluate the proximal marginal fit of the clinically acceptable metal-ceramic crowns. Methods: The prospective study was conducted at the dental clinics of Aga Khan University, Karachi, from July to December 2018, and comprised metal-ceramic crowns that were evaluated prior to the cementation. Clinical examinations...

Objective: To compare the surface defects created on the ProTaper Next files versus HyFlex Electrical Discharge Machining files after single clinical use in molars. Methods: The cross-sectionalstudy was conducted in the dental department of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from December 2018 to June 2019, and comprised Nickel-Titanium fi...

Aim or Purpose LED unit has different curing modes with variable intensities that influence polymerization of composite restorative material. Bulk-Fill composites claim more depth of cure compared to conventional composites. However, they have conflicting reports on their success. Hence, the purpose of this study is to explore the curing mode that...

Introduction: Various intracanal medicaments have been used in cases of chronic apical periodontitis for appropriate disinfection of the root canal system to eliminate microbes especially from the inaccessible areas. Calcium hydroxide is the most common intracanal medicament available in various forms, but its effectiveness with or without iodofor...

Background: Access to apical root canal system is gained after flap elevation using various incision techniques. Soft-tissue healing after periradicular surgery may include gingival recession, papilla recession, changes in probing depth, and clinical attachment loss. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effect of full sulcul...

Initially, it was reported that coronavirus 2019 disease (Covid‐19) affects respiratory, gastrointestinal and neurological systems, but the oral, olfactory and integumentary systems are also involved. This review discusses various oral manifestations of Covid‐19 reported in the literature along with possible underlying mechanisms. The reported mani...

Objective: To evaluate the vertical relationship of the roots of maxillary posterior teeth with maxillary sinus floor, and its association with age, gender and bilateral jaw symmetry. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Karachi from June to December 2018, and comprised patients who visited the dental c...

Background: To compare the effect of ProTaper Next and One Shape rotary files on canal transportation and centering abilities in resin block with simulated curved canal. Methods: An in-vitro experimental study was carried out in Dental clinics. Sixty resin blocks (30 per group) having simulated curved canals prepared with ProTaper Next and One S...

Tooth wear is a common problem seen in population and poses restorative challenge to a dentist as well. Extensive dental procedures are usually required for the treatment of tooth wear associated with loss of occlusal vertical dimension. An overlay removable partial denture provides conservative treatment option for patients with moderate to severe...

Incorporating research education and training in residency curriculum increases the understanding of evidence-based decision-making among doctors in training. Evidence suggests that the addition of research is linearly associated with improvement in clinical competence, and encourages the residents to shape their career as clinical investigators. T...

Dentistry is a profession that requires coordinated motor skills in addition to acquired knowledge for ideal execution of any treatment plan for patients. Learning experiences have been modified over a period of time for students as well as for the healthcare providers. Conventional pre-clinical training employed the use of cadavers, but financial,...

BACKGROUND Various intracanal medicaments have been used in cases of chronic apical periodontitis for appropriate disinfection of the root canal system to eliminate microbes specially from the inaccessible areas. Caclcium Hydroxide (CH) is the most common intracanal medicament available in various forms, but its effectiveness with or without iodofo...

Objective: To compare the effect of OneShape and ProTaper Next file on the change in canal width and angle of curvature in simulated curved canal in resin blocks. Methods: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Aga Khan University, Karachi, from January to March 2018, and comprised endodontic resin blocks that had inbuilt curved canal...

Objective: To determine the frequency of complications in crowns cemented over a 5-year period in a tertiary care hospital and also to report the survival of these crowns. Methods: The retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from March 2017 to March 2018 and comprised porcelain-fused-to-metal...

Recent advances in the field of endodontics have greatly improved the outcome and success rate of dental materials. For last three decades, there has been great interest in the development of bioactive dental material with the ability to interact and induce surrounding dental tissues to promote regeneration of pulpal and periradicular tissues. As t...

The management of Amelogenesis imperfecta often poses a challenge for the dentists. It not only includes aesthetic and functional rehabilitation of the patient, but also requires a positive rapport building with the patient due to psychosocial issues. The treatment plan is driven by patient demands, age, cost-affordability, severity of the disease...

The objective of the present systematic review is to evaluate the success of pulpotomy in mature permanent teeth presented with irreversible pulpitis. The following databases were searched: PubMed, Oral and Dentistry Database, Cochrane, and CINAHL plus. We included studies published in the English language only. However, narrative reviews and case...

Trauma moves a tooth from its original position which needs to be repositioned for optimum healing and better outcomes. To stabilize the traumatically displaced teeth, splinting is specified as the gold standard. In this article we have discussed about various old and modern techniques based on the type of material to splint teeth with dentoalveola...

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is the process of building 3D objects by additive manufacturing approach. It is being used in endodontics, periodontology, maxillofacial surgery, prosthodontics, orthodontics, and restorative dentistry, but our review article is focused on periodontal application. A detailed literature search was done on PubMed/Medli...

Immature necrotic permanent tooth presents a distinctive challenge for the endodontist. Various treatment modalities have been employed to create hard tissue barrier at the apex, which includes non-vital pulp therapy with calcium hydroxide, apexification with mineral trioxide aggregate, pulp revascularisation and regeneration. Regenerative endodont...

Aim: The objective of the present systematic review was to assess the outcomes of Hall technique (HT) on primary carious molars and compared it with the conventional dental restorations. Materials and methods: The systematic review was registered with Prospero registry (CRD42015020445) to answer the following research question: Is HT a better resto...

Poor aesthetics due to gingival recession can be a common concern among patients, specifically in individuals with gummy or high smile line. Various factors including patient related, site specific and technical factors need to be considered while treating gingival recession, as they all have a significant bearing on treatment success. Patients hav...

Background and Aim Gingival hyperpigmentation is an esthetic problem. The aim of the present study was to identify most effective treatment modality for managing generalized physiological gingival pigmentation. Materials and Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were done (1919 to October 2018) using PubMed, CINHAL, Dental and Oral Science...

Introduction: Dental plaque has been established as an etiological factor in the development of gingivitis and periodontitis. Several antimicrobials including Chlorhexidine and Metronidazole have been used as an adjuvant to mechanical plaque removal. Objective: To compare 0.8% Metronidazole gel, 0.2% Chlorhexidine gel and alternate application o...

Introduction: Iatrogenic damage to the adjacent tooth during crown preparation is a frequent disastrous effect. The aim of the study was, therefore, to determine the frequency of different types, degree and location of iatrogenic damage to the adjacent tooth during crown and bridge preparations in a tertiary care setting that lead towards the morb...

Purpose The aim of this systematic review was to determine the most effective alveolar augmentation technique for vertical bone gain. Materials and Methods A systematic search to select clinical trials and retrospective studies done on patients with reduced vertical bone height was conducted. The intervention of interest was autogenous block graft...

Introduction: Iatrogenic damage to the adjacent tooth during crown preparation is a frequent disastrous effect. The aim of the study was, therefore, to determine the frequency of different types, degree and location of iatrogenic damage to the adjacent tooth during crown and bridge preparations in a tertiary care setting that lead towards the morbi...

Periodontitis affects tooth supporting structures which results in tooth loss. In order to restore these supporting structures various regenerative surgical modalities have been proposed which include mechanical and biologic approaches. The mechanical approaches have shown limited success as opposed to biologic approaches. The biologic approaches i...

Removable complete dentures have been the most cost-effective treatment option for edentulous jaws since decades. However, certain problems are encountered by the patients such as stability of the lower dentures resulting in poor masticatory efficiency. Ridge resorption and inadequate bony support are the long-term complications comprising the stab...

Removable complete dentures have been the most cost-effective treatment option for edentulous jaws since decades. However, certain problems are encountered by the patients such as stability of the lower dentures resulting in poor masticatory efficiency. Ridge resorption and inadequate bony support are the long-term complications comprising the stab...

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Background Implant-supported fixed restorations are considered as the standard treatment for replacement of missing teeth. These can be either screw or cement retained. The success or failure of implant restorations depend upon amount of marginal bone loss (MBL). The present study is to determine the MBL around cement and screw-retained implant pro...

Background: Different studies have been conducted in which defects of Ni-Ti files were reported after multiple usages but limited data is available regarding the defects in the rotary Ni-Ti files subjected to single clinical use. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of surface defects caused by fatigue in the rotary ProTaper...

Dento-alveolar trauma with avulsion is common in anterior maxillary region and these injuries are very challenging to manage in young adolescent because of dynamic state of the alveolar and dental development, occlusion and facial growth. The present case report reveals management of dento-alveolar trauma along with missing avulsed tooth and compli...

Background/Aim: The management of horizontal root fracture is not straight forward. It depends upon the location of the fracture, mobility and vitality of fractured tooth segment. The goal of treatment is to restore the shape and function of affected tooth. Case report: This following case report described the conservative management of horizontal...

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of different pre-cleaning methods by determining frequency and site of contamination on the sterilised dental burs using Phloxine B dye. Methods: The in-vitro experimental study was conducted from June to August 2017 at dental clinics of Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi. Diamond dental burs were sele...

Objective: To assess the knowledge of practising dentists regarding immediate management of dental avulsion. Methods: The cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in various dental colleges and teaching hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan, in October-November 2016, and comprised dentists working in academic institutions / departments or as gene...

Abstract Objective: To assess the knowledge of practising dentists regarding immediate management of dental avulsion. Methods: The cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in various dental colleges and teaching hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan, in October-November 2016, and comprised dentists working in academic institutions / departments or a...

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the root canal morphology of maxillary premolars. Method: This retrospective study was conducted from November 2016 to January 2017 at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and reviewed Cone Beam Computed Tomography images of maxillary first and second premolars done from November 2014 to October 2016. Frequency di...

Objective: To evaluate the root canal morphology of maxillary premolars. Methods: his retrospective study was conducted from November 2016 to January 2017 at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and reviewed Cone Beam Computed Tomography images of maxillary first and second premolars done from November 2014 to October 2016. Frequency distribut...

Resorption is both a physiological and pathological process which results in loss of hard tissues of the tooth, i.e , cementum and dentine and the surrounding bone. External resorption is much more common than internal resorption and can occur when tooth is luxated or avulsed. If remained unchecked, resorption can eventually lead to loss of the too...

The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of tooth-coronal index (TCI) in the age estimation. This retrospective charts review was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from January 2016 to March 2016, and comprised 315 teeth of 80 individuals. The teeth were analysed on Orthopantomogram. TCI was calculated for unrest...

Abstract Work-related musculoskeletal pain is common among healthcare professionals, including dentists. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among dentists. This study was carried out from January to April 2016 at various teaching hospitals of Karachi, and comprised...

The aim of the present study was to assess the validity of tooth-coronal index (TCI) in the age estimation. This retrospective charts review was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from January 2016 to March 2016, and comprised 315 teeth of 80 individuals. The teeth were analysed on Orthopantomogram. TCI was calculated for unrest...

Work-related musculoskeletal pain is common among healthcare professionals, including dentists. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among dentists. This study was carried out from January to April 2016 at various teaching hospitals of Karachi, and comprised 230 dentis...

Large apical radiolucencies after endodontic treatment are usually advised orthograde retreatment, apical surgery and that too with a guarded prognosis. Microsurgical techniques, the use of ultrasonic and magnification aides, have been in use in the developed countries for the past few decades and have shown significant improvement in long-term suc...

Objective: To compare the technical quality of root canal obturation in relation to rotary and manual root canal preparation techniques. Study design: Cross sectional, analytical study. Place and duration of study: The Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi from January till December 2011. Methodology: Data was retrospectively retrieved by per...

Full-coverage porcelain fused to metal crowns is commonly recommended for restoration of extensively damaged teeth. Ability of the dentist to adequately prepare teeth is fundamental to success and longevity of these restorations. Historically, retention has been the main focus of interest in crown dislodgment; however, resistance form is perhaps mo...

Intrusive luxation is one of the most severe types of dental trauma. The risk of development of inflammatory or replacement root resorption is high if not timely managed. Endodontic intervention is required soon after the occurrence of trauma, in an attempt to prevent or delay inflammatory root resorption. This case report emphasized timely referra...

Injury to an immature permanent tooth may result in cessation of dentin deposition and root maturation leaving an open root apex and thin dentinal walls that are prone to fracture. Endodontic treatment is often complicated and protracted with an uncertain prognosis frequently resulting in pre-mature tooth loss. There are several advantages of promo...

Full-coverage porcelain fused to metal crowns is commonly recommended for restoration of extensively damaged teeth. Ability of the dentist to adequately prepare teeth is fundamental to success and longevity of these restorations. This study was designed to compare recommended convergence angle and taper values of tooth preparation with clinically p...

To compare clinically practiced convergence angle values of tooth preparation with recommended values, and also the effect of tooth position and operator experience on convergence angle. Analytical study. The study was carried out at the Dental clinic, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from January to June 2007. A minimum of 75 crown prepa...