Nanoscience and nanotechnology are emerging fields involved in the synthesis and application of nanoscale materials and structures. Metallic nanoparticles and metallic oxide are being used extensively in dentistry as they interfere with bacterial metabolism and prevent biofilm formation. AgNPs are a class of zero-dimensional materials with distinctive morphologies. The metallic nanoparticles demonstrate the significant antimicrobial activity by ion release, oxidative stress induction, and non-oxidative mechanisms. Metallic silver has been known for its antimicrobial activity since ancient times. Through the years, silver-containing compounds have been used in various forms to treat several medical conditions. Incorporating silver nanoparticles into dental materials may enhance the mechanical features and antibacterial properties of dental materials. Therefore, an increasing number of dental materials with the inclusion of silver nanoparticles are being developed that improve the overall oral health status of patients. This paper aims to review the literature on specific characteristics of silver nanoparticles and their applications in pediatric dentistry.

The outbreak of a pandemic, occurring after a hundred years, has taken the world by storm. The knowledge attained from the past epidemics has helped establish various supportive, symptomatic and preventive measures. Some possible therapeutic actions of substances against the concomitant SARS 2 COVID have been tested. However, evidence from randomised controlled trials in humans is not available to support the recommendation of any of the investigational therapies, including vaccines for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 at this time. With the rapid structural changes and the constantly mutating and unpredictable nature of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the development of a definitive treatment regimen is even more challenging. Hence, management is only aimed at supportive therapy/ symptomatic treatment. In the meantime, community mitigating procedures to keep the sudden surge of cases at bay are in place, and the best healthcare workers are working tirelessly in finding a cure. A significant hurdle faced is the foreboding uncertainty about the virus-host relationship as well as the development and progression of the epidemic even today. The numerous modalities have been discussed to give an overview of the best approach for the treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 positive patients which include the contemporary antiviral drugs, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, immunoglobulin therapies, vaccines and homoeopathic remedies.

Early childhood caries commonly affects the primary maxillary anterior teeth, in which extensive post- endodontic rehabilitation has always been a challenge. This is due to the small size of the crown, relatively large pulp chambers, and the age of the child. The remaining inadequate sound tooth structure renders restorations more prone to fractures. Among the available treatment modalities which include extraction of the grossly destructed tooth structure, use of semipermanent crowns and intracanal posts, the posts can be used effectively, to restore the lost function and anatomy. They also enhance the quality of the final coronal restoration by providing additional support for retention. The available methods for intracanal reinforcement for anterior teeth include the metal posts fabricated using orthodontic wires, short composite posts fabricated directed in the primary root canal, prefabricated glass fiber posts and posts utilising polyethylene fibers (Ribbond). Recently certain advanced techniques such as the biologic dentin and zirconia have also come into use. The various advantages and disadvantages for these have been summarised in this review along with the standardised clinical protocol for their placement in the primary root canals. Various in-vivo and in-vitro studies have concluded that the glass-fiber short intracanal posts provide the most suitable esthetics, strength, elastic modulus, and resilience. However, further qualitative research is required to certify it as a standard treatment modality.