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.
- Fracture load of tooth restored with fiber post and experimental short fiber composite (2011)
- Open Dentistry Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Fracture toughness, compressive strength and load-bearing capacity of short glass fibre-reinforced composite resin. (2011)
- Chinese Journal of Dental Research
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - High volume individual fibre post versus low volume fibre post: the fracture load of the restored tooth. (2011)
- Journal of Dentistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Huokoinen ja bioaktiivinen luusementti tulevaisuuden luurekonstruktiossa (2011) Puska Mervi, Aho Allan J, Vallittu Pekka
(D1 Article in a professional journal) - Influence of molecular weight of polymethyl(methacrylate) beads on the properties and structure of cross-linked denture base polymer. (2011)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Influence of nanometer scale particulate fillers on some properties of microfilled composite resin. (2011)
- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Interface shear strength and fracture behaviour of porous glass-fibre-reinforced composite implant and bone model material. (2011)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Kuiduilla luja tulevaisuus (2011)
- Lääkärilehti
(B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal) - Load-bearing capacity of custom-made versus prefabricated commercially available zirconia abutments. (2011)
- International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Implants
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Load-bearing capacity of handmade and computer-aided design--computer-aided manufacturing-fabricated three-unit fixed dental prostheses of particulate filler composite. (2011)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Load-bearing capacity of human incisor restored with various fiber-reinforced composite posts (2011)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Load-bearing capacity of human incisor restored with various fiber-reinforced composite posts. (2011)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Marginal Adaptation and Microleakeage of Directly and Indirectly Made Fiber Reinforced Composite Inlays (2011)
- Open Dentistry Journal
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Mechanical properties of denture base resin cross-linked with methacrylated dendrimer. (2011)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Osteoblast and Fibroblast Culture Proliferation on Injectable Calcium Ceramics Polymer Composite (2011)
- Bioceramics Development and Applications
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Polymer Composites for Bone Reconstruction (2011) Advances in Composite Materials - Analysis of Natural and ManMade Materials Puska M, Aho A, Vallittu P
(C1 Refereed scientific book) - Preface Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering (2011)
- Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
(B1 Non-refereed article in a scientific journal) - Prepolymerized vs. in situ-polymerized Fiber-reinforced Composite Implants: a Pilot Study (2011)
- Journal of Dental Research
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Resin-Bonded Fiber-Reinforced Composite for Direct Replacement of Missing Anterior Teeth: A Clinical Report (2011)
- International Journal of Dentistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Stress and strain analysis of the bone-implant interface: a comparison of fiber-reinforced composite and titanium implants utilizing 3-dimensional finite element study. (2011)
- Journal of Oral Implantology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)