Abstract: Objective To compare the cleaning abilities of ProTaper Gold(PTG)and TF-Adaptive(TFA).Methods Forty single-abstracted premolars were randomly divided into PTG and TFA groups.The debris and smear layer of the root coronal 1/3,middle 1/3 and apical 1/3 in the two groups were observed using scanning electron microscope(SEM).The cleaning abilities of the PTG and TFA rotary systems were scored according to the scoring standard developed by YAMASHITA.The scores of the two groups were compared and then analyzed.Results There was no significant difference found in the scores of the smear layer and debris at the root coronal 1/3 and the middle 1/3.The scores of the debris and smear layer at the apical 1/3 in the group PTG were higher than those in the TFA group(P<0.05).Conclusion PTG and TFA can effectively remove the root canal smear layer and debris at the root coronal 1/3,and the middle 1/3.However,at the apical 1/3,the cleaning efficiency of TFA is better than that of PTG.