Pekka Vallittu
DDS, PhD, CDT
pekval@utu.fi +358 29 450 2861 +358 40 574 8200 Lemminkäisenkatu 2 Turku ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9981-6717 |
Biomaterials in dentistry and medicine; Dental Technology; Prosthetic Dentistry
Number of Peer-Reviewed Publications: 742 (ISI Web of Science All Databases)
H-index: 111
For full list of publications, see
http://apps.webofknowledge.com.ezproxy.utu.fi/Search.do?product=UA&SID=D5GBhXbn6lvOGFpqEaM&search_mode=GeneralSearch&prID=47c1a391-b48e-4785-b6fb-6977327f8bb0
For materials science:
https://research.com/scientists-rankings/materials-science/fi
For art:
http://www.pekkavallittuart.com
Pekka Vallittu earned his degrees in Dental Technology in 1988 and completed both his Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Philosophy in 1994. He received Adjunct Professorship in 1995 and specialized in prosthodontics and stomatognathic physiology, becoming a European Prosthodontic Association Recognized Prosthodontist in 2000. Currently, he serves as a Full Professor and Chair of Biomaterials Science in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Turku, Finland. Since 2004, with one brief interruption, he has worked as the Head of the Institute of Dentistry at the University of Turku and as the Director of the Turku Clinical Biomaterials Centre. He holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Hong Kong and is a Doctor of Odontology honoris causa (h.c.) from the University of Eastern Finland. Additionally, he has been a Board Member of the University of Turku since 2018.
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Pekka Vallittu has received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Scientist Award in Prosthodontics and Implant Research from the International Association of Dental Research (IADR), the Acta Odontologica Scandinavica Big Prize, the Bensow-Äyräpää Prize, and the George Winter Award.
Scientific and Societal Impact
Vallittu's research interests began in dental technology and dentistry in the early 1990s, evolving to focus on high aspect ratio filler resin composites (FRC). This area became his predominant research focus for the following decades. In the early 2000s, FRC research expanded to include ceramics, bioceramics, and bioactive glasses, leading to investigations into biomineralizing and bioactive non-metallic bone surgery implants. His current research also explores natural-based fibers, such as nanocellulose, biomineralization, and hydrogels, for applications in dental restorations and bone implants. Through these research initiatives, Vallittu has collaborated with experts in cell biology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, orthopedics, neurosurgery, and materials chemistry. A significant aspect of his research is translating findings into clinical applications through existing companies or start-ups and addressing regulatory issues related to dental and medical biomaterials (MDR-EU, FDA). Recently, he has been involved in spin-off activities centered on sustainable 3D printing technology and the development of hydrating compounds for medical and technical uses. Pekka Vallittu’s h-index is 109 according to Google Scholar, and the Web of Science databases list 742 of his indexed publications. Research.com ranks him 848th in the world and 4th in Finland among the best materials scientists. He holds over 140 granted international patents based on more than 36 inventions and is a Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials.
Dental education (theoretical, preclinical and clinical), biomaterial education at different levels in dentistry and medicine.
- Clinical Guide to Principles of Fiber-Reinforced Composites in Dentistry (2017) Vallittu Pekka, Özcan Mutlu
(C2 Editorial work for a scientific compilation book) - Comparative evaluation between glass and polyethylene fiber reinforced composites: A review of the current literature (2017)
- Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Effect of Distance on Light Transmission Through Polymerized Resin Composite (2017)
- European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Effect of ethanol treatment on mechanical properties of heat-polymerized polymethyl methacrylate denture base polymer (2017)
- Dental Materials Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Evaluation of an experimental adhesive resin for orthodontic bonding (2017)
- Mechanics of Composite Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Fabrication of indirect fiber reinforced resin composite (FRC) dental devices (2017) A Clinical Guide to Fibre Reinforced Composites (FRCs) in Dentistry Mutlu Özcan, Leila Perea-Lowery, Pekka Vallittu
(D2 Article in a professional compilation book) - Fiber-reinforced composites in fixed prosthodontics—Quo vadis? (2017)
- Dental Materials
(B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal) - Hollow glass fibers in reinforcing glass ionomer cements (2017)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Hydroxyapatite and bioactive glass surfaces for fiber reinforced composite implants via surface ablation by Excimer laser (2017)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Influence of increment thickness on dentin bond strength and light transmission of composite base materials (2017)
- Clinical Oral Investigations
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - In vitro cytotoxicity and surface topography evaluation of additive manufacturing titanium implant materials (2017)
- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Key requirements for dental FRCs (2017) A Clinical Guide to Fibre Reinforced Composites (FRCs) in Dentistry Pekka Vallittu
(D2 Article in a professional compilation book) - Light Transmission of Novel CAD/CAM Materials and Their Influence on the Degree of Conversion of a Dual-curing Resin Cement (2017)
- Journal of Adhesive Dentistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Load-bearing capacity and fracture behavior of glass fiber-reinforced composite cranioplasty implants (2017)
- Journal of Applied Biomaterials and Functional Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Mechanical Properties and Wear of Five Commercial Fibre-Reinforced Filling Materials (2017)
- Chinese Journal of Dental Research
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Preliminary fabrication and characterization of electron beam melted Ti-6Al-4V customized dental implant (2017)
- Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Preparation and characterization of high radio-opaque E-glass fiber-reinforced composite with iodine containing methacrylate monomer (2017)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Properties of discontinuous S2-glass fiber-particulate-reinforced resin composites with two different fiber length distributions (2017)
- Journal of Prosthodontic Research
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Removable devices and facial epithesis prostheses (2017) A Clinical Guide to Fibre Reinforced Composites (FRCs) in Dentistry Rosita Kantola, Hemmo Kurunmäki, Pekka Vallittu
(D2 Article in a professional compilation book) - Root canal anchoring systems (2017) A Clinical Guide to Fibre Reinforced Composites (FRCs) in Dentistry Johanna Tanner, Anna-Maria Le Bell-Rönnlöf, Pekka Vallittu
(D2 Article in a professional compilation book)