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: 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.
- Fatigue failure load of immature anterior teeth: influence of different fiber post-core systems (2021)
- Odontology
- Fatigue failure of anterior teeth without ferrule restored with individualized fiber-reinforced post-core foundations (2021)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- Flexural strength and flexural modulus of fiber-reinforced, soft liner-retained implant overdenture (2021)
- International Journal of Prosthodontics
- Fracture-behavior of CAD/CAM ceramic crowns before and after cyclic fatigue aging (2021)
- International Journal of Prosthodontics
- Impact of Fast High-Intensity versus Conventional Light-Curing Protocol on Selected Properties of Dental Composites (2021)
- Materials
- Influence of Post-Core and Crown Type on the Fracture Resistance of Incisors Submitted to Quasistatic Loading (2021)
- Polymers
- Influence of short-fiber composite base on fracture behavior of direct and indirect restorations (2021)
- Clinical Oral Investigations
- Layer structure and load-bearing properties of fibre reinforced composite beam used in cantilever fixed dental prostheses (2021)
- Dental Materials Journal
- Microstructure and Surface Characteristics of ShortFiber Reinforced CAD/CAM Composite Blocks (2021)
- European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry
- Midline denture base strains of glass fiber-reinforced single implant-supported overdentures (2021)
- Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
- Shear-bond strength and optical properties of short fiber-reinforced CAD/CAM composite blocks (2021)
- European Journal of Oral Sciences
- Structural and elemental characterization of glass and ceramic particles for bone surgery (2021)
- Dental Materials
- Surface Integrity of Dimethacrylate Composite Resins with Low Shrinkage Comonomers (2021)
- Materials
- Temporomandibular joint and Giant Panda's (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) adaptation to bamboo diet (2021)
- Scientific Reports
- The effect of chlorhexidine and dimethyl sulfoxide on long-term sealing ability of two calcium silicate cements in root canal (2021)
- Dental Materials
- The Effect of Material Type and Location of an Orthodontic Retainer in Resisting Axial or Buccal Forces (2021)
- Materials
- The effect of refractive index of fillers and polymer matrix on translucency and color matching of dental resin composite (2021)
- Biomaterial Investigations in Dentistry
- The influence of FRC base and bonded CAD/CAM resin composite endocrowns on fatigue behavior of cracked endodontically-treated molars (2021)
- Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials
- The Viability and Growth of HaCaT Cells After Exposure to Bioactive Glass S53P4-Containing Cell Culture Media (2021)
- Otology and Neurotology
- Universal Adhesive for Fixed Retainer Bonding: In Vitro Evaluation and Randomized Clinical Trial (2021)
- Materials