The present disclosed subject matter relates to methods and compositions for restoring a diseased or damaged tooth such that infection is inhibited or eliminated and pulp regeneration is facilitated. The disclosed subject matter also includes a composition comprising a physiologically acceptable matrix seeded with pulp cells. The matrix can be capable of being injected into the pulp chamber of a tooth. In some embodiments, the matrix of a composition includes a hydrogel (e.g., collagen, chitosan, alginate, MATRIGEL™, gelatin, JELL-O®, fibrin), a mesh (e.g., polylactide-coglycolide (PLGA) mesh, polylactide (PLA) mesh, or polyglycolide (PGA) mesh, a cross-linked fiber mesh, a nanofiber mesh, a mesh fabric, biodegradable polymer mesh), a microsphere (biodegradable polymer microsphere, a hydrogel microsphere), or a combination of any of the foregoing. In yet other embodiments, the matrix includes a nanofiber, an artificial three-dimensional scaffold material, or a synthetic three-dimensional scaffold material.