Publications by authors named "Umer F"

Ambient noise cross-correlation has been widely used to observe post-earthquake temporal velocity variations. Comparative studies are essential for assessing seismic hazards and clarifying the relationship between velocity variation and magnitude. However, very few comparative studies by earthquake magnitude have been conducted, particularly for magnitudes smaller than 6.

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With the digitization of radiographs, vast amounts of data have become accessible, enabling the curation and development of extensive datasets. Among radiographic modalities, Orthopantomograms (OPGs) are widely utilized in clinical practice. The integration of automated diagnostic processes into routine clinical practice holds great potential as an adjunct for dentists.

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Objective: Large Language Models (LLMs) have revolutionized healthcare, yet their integration in dentistry remains underexplored. Therefore, this scoping review aims to systematically evaluate current literature on LLMs in dentistry.

Data Sources: The search covered PubMed, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar, with studies selected based on predefined criteria.

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Article Synopsis
  • This systematic review evaluated how effective AI-based Deep Learning models are for detecting dental caries using intraoral images.
  • The review analyzed 273 studies and included 23, finding that most had a low risk of bias, with accuracy rates varying widely among studies.
  • While AI models showed promise, especially in low-resource environments, more real-world applications and improvements in model deployment are necessary for better caries detection.
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Background: A comprehensive understanding of the root form and canal anatomy is essential for successful endodontic treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the root canal anatomy of mandibular premolars in the Pakistani population using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to classify the findings with the new classification proposed by Ahmed et al. METHODS: Ethical exemption was obtained from Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.

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This study evaluates the effectiveness of an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based smartphone application designed for decay detection on intraoral photographs, comparing its performance to that of junior dentists. Conducted at The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, this study utilized a dataset comprising 7,465 intraoral images, including both primary and secondary dentitions. These images were meticulously annotated by two experienced dentists and further verified by senior dentists.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study evaluated the methodological quality of economic evaluations in restorative dentistry and endodontics by analyzing relevant articles published from 2012 to 2022, using the Drummond checklist and bibliometric network analysis.
  • - Out of 37 studies assessed, 81.08% were rated as good quality, primarily published in Q1 journals, while co-authorship analysis showed a strong network with key researchers contributing significantly.
  • - Findings highlighted limited participation from developing countries in the research landscape, stressing the importance of improving methodological rigor to enhance the quality of evidence for informed healthcare decision-making.
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Background: Pakistan faces a significant burden of oral diseases, which can be effectively reduced through preventive measures. Dentistry in Pakistan predominantly focuses on corrective dental procedures, increasing the treatment costs and widens disparities in oral healthcare access. To address this gap and meet the country's oral health needs, Aga Khan University initiated a Dental Hygiene program aimed to expand and diversify the oral health workforce and improving access to quality care in various healthcare settings.

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Background: Understanding the root canal morphology is essential for the success of root canal treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate and analyze the root canal configuration of maxillary premolars using Cone Beam Computed Tomography in the Pakistani subpopulation.

Method: This cross-sectional study utilized CBCT scans from two distinct centres: Aga Khan University in Karachi and Jinnah MRI and Body Scans in Lahore.

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Objective: This study underscores the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, particularly the promising applications of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the delivery of post-operative dental care. The aim is to evaluate the performance of an embedded GPT model and its comparison with ChatGPT-3.5 turbo.

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Objective: Bibliometric analysis and citation counts help to acknowledge influence of publications. The aim of this study was to conduct bibliometric and citation analysis of top-cited articles, from low- and lower-middle income countries, on use and application of digital technology in dentistry.

Methodology: A search strategy based on "Digital Dentistry", "Low Income Countries", and "Lower-Middle Income Countries" was used in October 2023 using Scopus database to retrieve articles relevant to digital dentistry, with citation count of 10 or more.

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Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs) were introduced by the United Nations to ensure the sustainable progress of mankind through various domains. Pakistan, a low-middle-income country, faces many challenges in achieving SDGs. Artificial Intelligence is a rapidly evolving technology presenting significant importance in achieving SDGs.

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Objective: To segment dental implants on PA radiographs using a Deep Learning (DL) algorithm. To compare the performance of the algorithm relative to ground truth determined by the human annotator.

Methodology: Three hundred PA radiographs were retrieved from the radiographic database and consequently annotated to label implants as well as teeth on the LabelMe annotation software.

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Introduction: The fields of medicine and dentistry are beginning to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) in diagnostics. This may reduce subjectivity and improve the accuracy of diagnoses and treatment planning. Current evidence on pathosis detection on pantomographs (PGs) indicates the presence or absence of disease in the entire radiographic image, with little evidence of the relation of periapical pathosis to the causative tooth.

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Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of ethanol compared to citric acid in the removal of oil-based calcium hydroxide from the apical third of the root canal system using passive ultrasonic irrigation.

Methods: The in vitro study was conducted from September to October 2021 at the dental clinics of the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised single-rooted teeth that were selected from institutional bank of extracted teeth. They were randomly divided into group A having 70% ethanol + passive ultrasonic irrigation, group B 10% citric acid + passive ultrasonic irrigation, group C positive controls and group D negative controls.

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Statement Of Problem: Endocrowns have been proposed as an alternative to post-and-core retained complete crowns for structurally compromised endodontically treated teeth. However, an analysis of their cost-effectiveness is lacking.

Purpose: The purpose of this simulation study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of an endocrown versus a complete crown as a definitive restoration for structurally compromised endodontically treated teeth.

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Introduction: Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms, particularly Deep Learning (DL) models are known to be data intensive. This has increased the demand for digital data in all domains of healthcare, including dentistry. The main hindrance in the progress of AI is access to diverse datasets which train DL models ensuring optimal performance, comparable to subject experts.

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Introduction: Evidence-based dentistry suggests pulpotomy as a potential alternative to root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth with irreversible pulpitis. However, the evidence surrounding the cost-valuation and cost-efficacy of this treatment modality is not yet established. In this context, we adopted an economic modeling approach to assess the cost-effectiveness of pulpotomy versus root canal treatment, as this could aid in effective clinical decision-making.

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Carbohydrate counting is a well-established tool for self-management of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and can improve glycemic control and potentially reduce long-term complication risk. However, it can also be burdensome, error-prone, and complicated for the patient. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to investigate glycemic control with carbohydrate counting ("flex") versus simplified meal announcement ("fix") in adolescents with T1D using the MiniMed™ 780G system.

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Artificial intelligence (AI) has been integrated into dentistry for improvement of current dental practice. While many studies have explored the utilization of AI in various fields, the potential of AI in dentistry, particularly in low-middle income countries (LMICs) remains understudied. This scoping review aimed to study the existing literature on the applications of artificial intelligence in dentistry in low-middle income countries.

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Proton pump inhibitors are one of the most frequently prescribed medicines primarily for reducing the production of gastric acid. Every medicine has some adverse effects associated with it, including effects on the bone tissues. Dental implant is one of the most preferred options for teeth replacement.

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Introduction Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) play an important role in evidence-based decision-making. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the social impact of CSRs in dentistry and the inclusivity and diversity of researchers contributing to one of the largest databases in health care research.Methodology The Altmetric and bibliometric data for CSRs in dentistry were obtained through Altmetric Explorer and the Dimensions database and were analysed to determine the trends.

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