In order to study the cleansing effect of air-driven sonic system, the author prepared root canals on 48 extracted human permanent single rooted teeth using hand instrumentation and aforementioned method, half and half of the cases. In order for comparison of the degree of remnant debris and cleanliness, the cross sections at 3mm and 7mm levels from the apex were stereomicroscopically observed and scored in accordance with predetermined degree. The obtained results were as follows: 1. Air-driven sonic system was more effective in cleansing root canal than hand instrumentation at apical 3mm level. (p < 0.01) 2. Air-driven sonic system was more effective in cleansing root canal than hand instrumentation at apical 7mm level. (p < 0.01) 3. In hand instrumentation, Helisonic file was more effective in cleansing root canal than Rispisonic file. (p < 0.05) In air-driven sonic system, on the other hand, there were no significant difference between the two files.