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: 112
For full list of publications, see Web of Science All Databases
For materials science:
https://research.com/scientists-rankings/materials-science/fi
For art:
http://www.pekkavallittuart.wordpress.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 interruption, he has worked as the Head of the Institute of Dentistry at the University of Turku until 2024 and he is the Director of the Turku Clinical Biomaterials Centre too. He holds an Honorary Professorship at the University of Hong Kong, Visiting Professorship at the King Saud University 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. He is member of The Finnish Artists (Suomen Taiteilijat ry).
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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 111 according to Google Scholar, and the Web of Science databases list 765 of his indexed publications. Research.com ranks him 848th in the world and 4th in Finland among the best materials scientists. He holds over 150 granted international patents based on more than 45 inventions and is a Fellow of the Academy of Dental Materials. He is an invited member of Finska Vetenskaps-Societeten - Suomen Tiedeseura - The Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters – Société Scientifique de Finlande - Finnische Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft and The Finnish Academy of Science and Letters - Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia.
Dental education (theoretical, preclinical and clinical), biomaterial education at different levels in dentistry and medicine.
- Fiber-reinforced composites in dentistry: An insight into adhesion aspects of the material and the restored tooth construct (2023)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Fracture behavior of short fiber-reinforced CAD/CAM inlay restorations after cyclic fatigue aging (2023)
- Odontology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Improving light-cured intermediate resin for hard and space mouthguard using a glass fiber (2023)
- Dental Traumatology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Load-bearing capacity and wear characteristics of short fiber-reinforced composite and glass ceramic fixed partial dentures (2023)
- European Journal of Oral Sciences
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Particulate Filler and Discontinuous Fiber Filler Resin Composite's Adaptation and Bonding to Intra-Radicular Dentin (2023)
- Polymers
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Physicochemical and biological characterization of functionalized calcium carbonate (2023)
- Materialia
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Plasma Treated AR-Glass Fibres in Experimental Reinforced Composites with Three Silanes: A Study on Mechanical Properties (2023)
- Silicon
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Repair bond strength of bulk-fill composites: influence of different primers and direction of debonding stress (2023)
- Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Retrospective Analysis of Artifacts in Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images Used to Diagnose Chronic Rhinosinusitis (2023)
- Diagnostics
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Short Fiber Based Filling Composites (2023) Bulk Fill Resin Composites in Dentistry: A Clinical Guide Garoushi Sufyan, Keulemans Filip, Lassila Lippo, Vallittu Pekka K.
(B2 Non-refereed book chapter or chapter in a compilation book) - Tailoring the monomers to overcome the shortcomings of current dental resin composites – review (2023)
- Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - The effect of low-temperature degradation and building directions on the mechanical properties of additive-manufactured zirconia (2023) Miura Shoko, Shinya Akikazu, Ishida Yoshiki, Fujita Takafumi, Vallittu Pekka, Lassila Lippo, Fujisawa Masanori
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Wear behavior at margins of direct composite with CAD/CAM composite and enamel (2023)
- Clinical Oral Investigations
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Zirconia implants interfere with the evaluation of peri-implant bone defects in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images even with artifact reduction, a pilot study (2023)
- Dentomaxillofacial Radiology
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Calcium Carbonate/Hydroxyapatite Microparticles and Osteoblast Responses (2022)
- Solid State Phenomena
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Can Specular Gloss Measurements Predict the Effectiveness of Finishing/Polishing Protocols in Dental Polymers? A Systematic Review and Linear Mixed-effects Prediction Model (2022)
- Operative Dentistry
(A2 Refereed review article in a scientific journal ) - Crack propagation and toughening mechanism of bilayered short-fiber reinforced resin composite structure —Evaluation up to six months storage in water (2022) Bijelic-Donova Jasmina, Garoushi Sufyan, Lassila Lippo V, Rocca Giovanni Tommaso, Vallittu Pekka K.
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Development and characterization of ion-releasing fiber-reinforced flowable composite (2022)
- Dental Materials
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Direct Short-Fiber Reinforced Composite Resin Restorations and Glass-Ceramic Endocrowns in Endodontically Treated Molars: A 4-Year Clinical Study (2022)
- European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal) - Effect of 3D Printer Type and Use of Protection Gas during Post-Curing on Some Physical Properties of Soft Occlusal Splint Material (2022)
- Polymers
(A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal)



