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.
- Effect of random/aligned nylon-6/MWCNT fibers on dental resin composite reinforcement (2015)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Effects of nanofiller on mechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composites polymerized with light-curing and additional postcuring (2015)
- Journal of Applied Biomaterials and Functional Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Evaluation of intensity of artefacts in CBCT by radio-opacity of composite simulation models of implants in vitro (2015)
- Dentomaxillofacial Radiology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Fiber glass-bioactive glass composite for bone replacing and bone anchoring implantse (2015)
- Dental Materials
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Fracture behavior of pontics of fiber-reinforced composite fixed dental prostheses (2015)
- Dental Materials Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Fracture strengths of chair‑side‑generated veneers cemented with glass fibers (2015)
- Nigerian journal of clinical practice
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Hierarchically Designed Bioactive Glassy Nanocoatings for the Growth of Faster and Uniformly Dense Apatite (2015)
- Journal of the American Ceramic Society
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - High-aspect ratio fillers – Fiber-reinforced composites and their anisotropic properties (2015)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Impact of gastric acidic challenge on surface topography and optical properties of monolithic zirconia (2015)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - In vitro assessment of the soft tissue/implant interface using porcine gingival explants (2015)
- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Optical properties and light irradiance of monolithic zirconia at variable thicknesses (2015)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Outcomes of Cranioplasty with Synthetic Materials and Autologous Bone Grafts (2015)
- World Neurosurgery
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Oxygen inhibition layer of composite resins: effects of layer thickness and surface layer treatment on the interlayer bond strength (2015)
- European Journal of Oral Sciences
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Paediatric cranial defect reconstruction using bioactive fibre-reinforced composite implant: early outcomes (2015)
- Acta Neurochirurgica
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Penetration depth of monomer systems into acrylic resin denture teeth used as pontics (2015)
- Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Photo Initiated Curing of Bracket Adhesive by Light Transmission Through Glass Fibers (2015)
- Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Preparation of antibacterial and radio-opaque dental resin with new polymerizable quaternary ammonium monomer (2015)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Shear bond strength between alumina substrate and prosthodontic resin composites with various adhesive resin systems (2015)
- BMC Oral Health
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The effect of staining and vacuum sintering on optical and mechanical properties of partially and fully stabilized monolithic zirconia (2015)
- Dental Materials Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - The effect ot short fiber composite base on microleakage and load-bearing capacity of posterior restorations (2015)
- Acta Biomaterialia Odontologica Scandinavica
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)