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, Visiting Professor at the Sahlgrenska Academy (University of Göteborg, Sweden) 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 2018-2025. He is member of The Finnish Artists (Suomen Taiteilijat ry).
He is Invited Member of Finska Vetenskaps-Societeten - Suomen Tiedeseura - The Finnish Society of Sciences and Letters – Société Scientifique de Finlande - Finnische Wissenschaftliche Gesellschaft and Invited Member of the Finnish Academy of Science and Letters - Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia.
Pekka Vallittu has received numerous accolades, including the two times (2012 and 2026) Distinguished Scientist Award 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 (agriculture and concrete industry). Pekka Vallittu’s h-index is 112 according to Google Scholar, and the Web of Science databases list over 800 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.
Dental education (theoretical, preclinical and clinical), biomaterial education at different levels in dentistry and medicine.
- Effect of heat treatment of polymethyl methacrylate powder on mechanical properties of denture base resin (2014)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- Effect of heat treatment of wood on the morphology, surface roughness and penetration of simulated and human blood (2014)
- Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering
- Effect of implant design and bioactive glass coating on biomechanical properties of fiber-reinforced composite implants (2014)
- European Journal of Oral Sciences
- Effect of UV on wettability and bacterial adhesion of TiO2-nanotubes (2014)
- Dental Materials
- Effects of fiber-reinforced composite bases on microleakage of composite restorations in proximal locations (2014)
- Open Dentistry Journal
- Factors affecting the mechanical behavior of Y-TZP (2014)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- Fiber-reinforced Composite Fixed Dental Prostheses with Various Pontics (2014)
- Journal of Adhesive Dentistry
- Flexural strengths of conventional and nanofilled fiber-reinforced composites: a three-point bending test (2014)
- Dental Traumatology
- Fracture resistance of endodontically restored, weakened incisors (2014)
- Dental Traumatology
- Glass fibers in fiber-reinforced composites (2014) Handbook of oral biomaterials Pekka K. Vallittu
- Hammasteknikkokoulutuksen suunnittelu etenee Turussa (2014)
- Hammasteknikko : Suomen hammasteknikkojen liitto ry:n julkaisu
- Influence of intermediate resin on the bond strength of light-curing composite resin to polymer substrate (2014)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
- Influence of water sorption on mechanical properties of injection-molded thermoplastic denture base resins (2014)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
- Inkjet printing of Chitlac-nanosilver—a method to create functional coatings for non-metallic bone implants (2014)
- Biofabrication
- In vitro blood and fibroblast responses to BisGMA-TEGDMA/bioactive glass composite implants. (2014)
- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
- Kovettaako valo yhdistelmämuovin varmasti? – Konsensusraportti valokovetuksesta (2014)
- Suomen Hammaslääkärilehti
- Laser Doppler imaging of skin microcirculation under fiber-reinforced composite framework of facial prosthesis (2014)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
- Mechanical properties and in vivo performance of load-bearing fiber-reinforced composite intramedullary nails with improved torsional strength (2014)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- Monomer priming of denture teeth and its effects on the bond strength of composite resin (2014)
- Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
- Optimizing the concentration of quaternary ammonium dimethacrylate monomer in bis-GMA/TEGDMA dental resin system for antibacterial activity and mechanical properties (2014)
- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine



