Maintaining the original canal path during instrumentation is a challenge in narrow curved canals. This study compared the maintenance of the original canal path of curved root canals during instrumentation with two kinds of stainless steel K-files(Brassler USA & Mani Japan), K-flexofiles(Maillefer Swiss) and Ni-Ti files(Brassler USA, Savannah, GA) using circumferential filing technique to # 40 MAF on 60 extracted human molars. Buccal and mesial canals with minimal initial curvature of 20 degrees were used. The maximal initial curvature was 41.5 degrees. Sixty curved canals divided into four groups according to file type(Group 1 : Ni-Ti file, Group 2 : K-flexofile, Group 3: K-file(Brassler), Group 4 : K-file(Mani)). Radiographs of canals were obtained before and after canal shaping. And postoperative radiographs were compared with preoperative radiographs using superimposition method. Data analysis was performed using Covariance analysis and paired-comparison test. The results observed were as follow ; 1. The angle of curvature was better maintained with Ni-Ti file than with stainless steel files. (p<0.01) 2. There was no significant difference in maintaining canal curvature between K-flexofile, Brassler$^{(R)}$ K-file and Mani$^{(R)}$ K-file, although there was some differences in mean values of postoperative canal curvature. 3. Paired-comparison t test revealed significant differences within each of the three stainless steel file types when comparing the mean differences before and after instrumentation, but no significant differences were observed within Ni-Ti file group.