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.
- Influence of cement thickness on the bond strength of tooth-colored posts to root dentin after thermal cycling (2013)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
- Influence of staining solutions and whitening procedures on discoloration of hybrid composite resins (2013)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
- Investigation of double bond conversion, mechanical properties, and antibacterial activity of dental resins with different alkyl chain length quaternary ammonium methacrylate monomers (QAM) (2013)
- Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition
- In vitro antimicrobial properties of silver-polysaccharide coatings on porous fiber-reinforced composites for bone implants (2013)
- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
- Load bearing capacity of fiber-reinforced and unreinforced composite resin CAD/CAM-fabricated fixed dental prostheses (2013)
- Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
- Load-bearing capacity of fiber reinforced fixed composite bridges (2013)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
- Long term water storage deteriorates bonding of composite resin to alumina and zirconia short communication (2013)
- Open Dentistry Journal
- Physical properties and depth of cure of a new short fiber reinforced composite (2013)
- Dental Materials
- Polylactic acid / bioactive glass fiber meshes for craniofacial applications (2013) Varila L., Vanamo U., Puska M., Vallittu P.K., Bobacka J., Hupa L.
- Preparation and Evaluation of Dental Resin with Antibacterial and Radio-Opaque Functions (2013)
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences
- Pull-out strengths of surface modificated FRC-implants to material simulating bone (2013) Puska M, Hautamäki M, Aho AJ, Kopperud H, Vallittu P
- Short and long term effects of additional post curing and polishing systems on the color change of dental nano-composites (2013) Egilmez F, Ergun G, Cekic-Nagas I, Vallittu PK, Lassila LVJ
- Short Fiber Reinforced Composite: a New Alternative for Direct Onlay Restorations (2013)
- Open Dentistry Journal
- Short fiber reinforced composite in restoring severely damaged incisors (2013)
- Acta Odontologica Scandinavica
- Surface modification of fiber reinforced polymer composites and their attachment to bone simulating material (2013)
- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
- Synthesis and characterization of new dimethacrylate monomer and its application in dental resin (2013)
- Journal of Biomaterials Science, Polymer Edition
- Synthesis of a novel tertiary amine containing urethane dimethacrylate monomer (UDMTA) and its application in dental resin (2013)
- Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine
- The effect of surface roughness on repair bond strength of light-curing composite resin to polymer composite substrate (2013)
- Open Dentistry Journal
- Use of thermochromic pigment in maxillofacial silicone elastomer (2013)
- Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry
- Applications of fiber-reinforced composites in dentistry (2012) Vallittu PK



