Areas of expertise
Biography
Number of Peer-Reviewed Publications: 712 (ISI Web of Science All Databases)
H-index: 103
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 art:
http://www.pekkavallittuart.com
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Pekka Vallittu has earned his degrees in Dental Technology in 1988, Doctor of Dental Surgery and Doctor of Philosophy in 1994, received Adjunct Professorship in 1995 and specialized in prosthodontics and stomatognathic physiology (European Prosthodontic Association Recognized Prosthodontist) in 2000. Presently, he is a Full Professorship and Chair of Biomaterials Science in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Turku, Finland and works as Dean of the Institute of Dentistry at the University of Turku and as the Director of Turku Clinical Biomaterials Centre (http:// www.biomaterials.utu.fi). He holds Honorary Professorship at the University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam and Visiting Professorship at the King Saud University in Riayadh, Saudi Arabia. He is Subject Editor of the Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials (JMBBM, Elsevier). He is Doctor of Oodontology honoris causa (h.c.) of the University of Eastern Finland. He has also been Board Member of the University of Turku since 2018.
Teaching
Dental education (theoretical and clinical), biomaterial education at different levels
Research
His predominating research activity on fiber-reinforced composites started from his hobby of model aircrafts and has lasted over 30 years since early 1980´s. The first clinical applications of fiber-reinforced composites were found in clinical dentistry and thereafter in combination with bioactive component in bone surgical applications as non-metallic bioactive implants. Pekka Vallittu has over 677 ISI Web of Science Index peer-reviewed publications and over 140 internationally granted patents. He has been awarded e.g. by the Distinguished Scientist Award in Prosthodontics and Implant Research by the International Association of Dental Research (IADR), the Acta Odontologica Scandinavica Big Prize, the Bensow-Äyräpää Prize and George Winter Award.
SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIETAL IMPACT
Based on the research of his in the field of biocomposites and bioactive materials several biomaterial companies have been established and new dental and medical treatments have been introduced to clinic. There are millions of dental patients world-wide who have been treated with fiber-reinforced composite dental constructs and 3000 patients with large cranial bone defect who have been treated with bioactive composite implant developed and commercialized by him. Present research activity focuses on long bone implants, natural (CNC) based composites, biomineralization, and recently also on paleo-odontology. The most recent spin-off activity is in sustainable 3D printing technology platform technology development.