The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of canal irrigants and smear layer on the property of apical seal. Fourty-five canals from human teeth were randomly selected and divided into 5 groups according to the irrigants used in conjunction with instrumentation. The irrigants were RC-prep in combination with Naocl, Citric acid, Naocl, Naocl in combination with $H_2O_2$, and normal saline solution. After instrumention and dry the canal with paper point, the canals were obturated by lateral condensation of Zinc-oxide eugenol sealer and gutta percha cone. All the specimens were immersed in 2% methylene blue dye solution for 7 days and the depth of dye penetration into the canals was evaluated by macros cope. The following results were obtained. 1. All the canals experimented showed varying degree of dye penetration. 2. There was no significant difference in depth of dye penetration between the groups known to be effective and ineffective in the removal of the smear layer. 3. The canals irrigated with NaOCl alone showed the highest dye penetration and mean leakage was 7.7 mm. 4. In the canals irrigated with RC-prep in combination with Naocl and citric acid, the mean dye penetration was 5.5 mm and 4.8 mm respectively, and the canals irrigated with NaOCl in combination with $H_2O_2$ and normal saline solution revealed mean dye penetration of 3.9 mm.