BACKGROUND Tooth caries and loss are frequent clinical diseases in dentistry. Tissue engineering is a new therapeutic choice for the complete biological regeneration of pulpal and dental tissues in regenerative dentistry. The aim of this study was to establish a protocol for in situ regeneration of a dental bud in the extracted socket. METHODS The current study examined tooth bud regeneration with dental pulp stem cells induced by a dentin derivative signal in a rabbit's jaw. RESULTS A tooth bud was regenerated; the morphology and structure of it were typical, and it was post-Bell stage. CONCLUSIONS In our study, a real tooth bud was formed in the post-Bell stage with complete morphologic and biological features. However, the application of this method for tooth regeneration in humans necessitates further research.