Abstract: A dental irrigating and aspirating instrument utilizes a cannula with a reduced diameter extended member shaped to occlude the apical foramen while conducting irrigating fluid into the apical terminations of root canal preparations. The extended member also serves to occlude the apical foramen while conducting fluid and debris out of the apical regions during aspiration. The extended member can be shaped with a cutting surface to prepare a base for the root canal preparation and root canal filling. Use and fabrication of the instrument for irrigation and aspiration of the fullest depths of the gingival sulci and periodontal pockets in periodontic practice is also described. A handpiece is described that retains the instrument allowing manipulation of the instrument and control of fluids to and from the instrument.