This study was performed to investigate the effect of root canal shaping techniques on the change of the shape of prepared root canal. 40 mesiobuccal canals of recently extracted mandibular 1st and 2nd molars were divided into 4 groups and shaped by step-down/balanced force technique, step-down/step-back technique, step-back technique and conventional technique respectively. The change of the shape of root canal was traced by superimposing the radiographs obtained before and after shaping of each root canal. The results were as follows. 1. By the experimented techniques except conventional technique, the root canals were more shaped in convex side of apical area and in concave side of most curved and coronal area than in the other sides(P<0.05). By conventional technique, the root canals were more shaped in convex side than in convave side from apex to orifice(P<0.05). 2. By step-down/balanced force technique, the cancave sides at C and D points of proximal view and C point of clinical view were more shaped than the convex side(P<0.05). Through the entire canal, the concave side was more shaped than the convex side in proximal view(P<0.01). But there was no statistical difference between both sides in clinical view. 3. By step-down/step-back technique, the change of root canal shape was not statistically different in concave and convex sides at each point of both views(P>0.05). And through the entire canal in proximal view, there was no statistical difference in shaping percentage between both sides. But through the entire canal in clinical view, the concave side was more shaped than the convex side(P<0.1). 4. By step-back technique, the convex side at B point of clinical more shaped than the other sides(P<0.05). Through the entire canal in proximal and clinical views, there was no statistical difference in shaping percentage between both sides. 5. Comparing the total shaping percentage among techniques, that in conventional technique was the greatest numerically, and followed by the percentages in step-down/step-back, step-down/balanced force and step-back technique. But, in proximal view, shaping percentages were not statistically different among techniques(P>0.05, ANOVA test). In clinical view, shaping percentages in step-back and conventional techniques were statistically different(P<0.01, ANOVA test). * Proximal view: radiograph taken in mesiodistal direction. * Clincal view: radiograph taken in faciolingual direction. A point : 1mm point from radiographic apex B point : center point between A and C points C point : most curved point of root canal D point : center point between C point and canal oriffice.