We isolated, cultured and transplanted odontogenetic human dental pulp-derived (HDP) cells for the dental tissue regeneration study. In this study, we observed that the differentiation of 13(superscript th) passage HDP cells was induced by glycerol 2-phosphate disodium salt hydrate (β-GP) to initiate calcification in two-dimensional (2-D) monolayer cultures in vitro. Immunohistological and fine-structure studies of transplantation of the nude mouse backs by 3-D culture of HDP cells with an alginate scaffold identified synthesis of a specific matrix resembling dentin in the transplants in vivo. The expression of dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) mRNA on day 13(superscript th) passage HDP cells added with β-GP was observed by the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results indicated that the sub-cultured 13(superscript th) passage HDP cells were able to differentiate into odontoblast-like cells to initiate dentinogenesis in the transplants with the alginate scaffold.