PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was comparing the efficacy of passive irrigation (PI) and passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI) for ability to remove debriment of canals. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mandibular premolars were decoronated and standardized to 16 mm length. After root canal enlargement and half separating longitudinally, standardized groove of 4 mm length, 0.2 mm width and 0.5 mm depth were formed on the dentin wall of one half. Three depressions in the canal wall of the opposite half, 0.3 mm in diameter and 0.5 mm in depth, were formed. After each groove and depression was filled with dentin debris, two sections of each half were reassembled using impression putty material. In group 1 the canals were irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl by PI. In group 2 the canals were irrigated with 2.5% NaOCl by PUI. Before and after root canal irrigation, the root canal wall of the section was taken with a microscope and a digital camera as images. The amount of dentin debris remaining in grooves and depressions was assessed using a scoring system. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between PI and PUI except for the middle 1/3 of the root canal (P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: At the middle 1/3 of the root canal, PUI removed more dentine debris than PI. But the removal efficiency of dentin debris is not significantly different between the PUI and PI at the apical area of root canal in mandibular premolars.