Pekka Vallittu
DDS, PhD, CDT
pekval@utu.fi +358 29 450 2861 +358 40 574 8200 Lemminkäisenkatu 2 Turku : 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.
- From body-on-frame to unibody constructions and designs mimicking biological structures; an overview (2018)
- European Journal of Oral Sciences
- Grit blasted aggregates of hydroxyl apatite functionalized calcium carbonate in occluding dentinal tubules (2018)
- Heliyon
- Immediate repair bond strength of fiber-reinforced composite after saliva or water contamination (2018)
- Journal of Adhesive Dentistry
- Influence of primers on the properties of the adhesive interface between resin composite luting cement and fiber-reinforced composite (2018)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- Load-bearing capacity of novel resin-based fixed dental prosthesis materials (2018) Isil Cekic-Nagas, Ferhan Egilmez, Gulfem Ergun, Pekka Kalevi Vallittu, Lippo Veli Juhana Lassila
- Load-bearing capacity of simulated Locator-retained overdenture system (2018)
- Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
- Mechanical properties and fracture behavior of flowable fiber reinforced composite restorations (2018)
- Dental Materials
- Micro and Nano Structural Analysis of Dental Ceramic and Luting Resin Interface and the Effect of Water Exposure on Integrity of Cement Interface (2018)
- Journal of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
- Original and Repair Bulk Fracture Resistance of Particle Filler and Short Fiber- Reinforced Composites (2018)
- Operative Dentistry
- Physical, mechanical, chemical and thermal properties of nanoscale graphene oxide-poly methylmethacrylate composites (2018)
- Journal of Composite Materials
- Physicochemical properties of discontinuous S2-glass fiber reinforced resin composite (2018) Qiting Huang, Wei Qin, Sufyan Garoushi, Jingwei He, Zhengmei Lin, Fang Liu, Pekka K. Vallittu, Lippo V. J. Lassila
- Polymer matrix of fiber-reinforced composites: Changes in the semi-interpenetrating polymer network during the shelf life (2018)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- Reinforcing effect of discontinuous microglass fibers on resin-modified glass ionomer cement. (2018) Garoushi S, Vallittu PK, Lassila L
- Short fiber-reinforced composite restorations: A review of the current literature (2018)
- Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry
- The Effect of Lithium Disilicate Ceramic Surface Neutralization on Wettability of Silane Coupling Agents and Adhesive Resin Cements (2018)
- Silicon
- The effect of smear layer removal on E faecalis leakage and bond strength of four resin-based root canal sealers (2018)
- BMC Oral Health
- Travel beyond Clinical Uses of Fiber Reinforced Composites (FRCs) in Dentistry: A Review of Past Employments, Present Applications, and Future Perspectives (2018)
- BioMed Research International
- Two-step vs. one-step conditioning systems and adhesive interface of glass ceramic surface and resin systems (2018)
- Journal of Adhesion Science and Technology
- A Clinical Guide to Fibre Reinforced Composites (FRCs) in Dentistry (2017) Pekka Vallittu, Mutlu Özcan
- An overview of fixed dental prostheses and the dynamic treatment approach (2017) A Clinical Guide to Fibre Reinforced Composites (FRCs) in Dentistry Pekka Vallittu, Mutlu Özcan



