The invention provides methods, apparatus and kits for regenerating dental
tissue in vivo that are useful for treating a variety of dental
conditions, exemplified by treatment of caries. The invention uses tissue
scaffold wafers, preferably made of PGA, PLLA, PDLLA or PLGA dimensioned
to fit into a hole of corresponding sized drilled into the tooth of
subject to expose dental pulp in vivo. In certain embodiments the tissue
scaffold wafer further comprises calcium phosphate and fluoride. The
tissue scaffold wafer may be secured into the hole with a hydrogel, a
cement or other suitable material. Either the wafer or the hydrogel or
both contain a morphogenic agent, such as a member encoded by the
TGF-.beta. supergene family, that promotes regeneration and
differentiation of healthy dental tissue in vivo, which in turn leads to
remineralization of dentin and enamel. The tissue scaffold may further
include an antibiotic or anti-inflammatory agent.