Dr. Shugars and his staff will strive to make your visit as comfortable as possible. It is our mission to provide you with excellent endodontic care in a professional, caring environment by a highly trained and motivated team. Dr. Shugars was born in Chicago, Illinois, raised in Portage, MI and graduated from Portage Northern High School in 1979. In 1983 he received his degree from K College. He received his dental degree from Northwestern University Dental School in 1987. While at Northwestern, Dr. Shugars chosen as one of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon national honor society members. He completed his endodontic training at The University of Illinois in 1989. While at the University of Illinois he was a clinical instructor in the dental school as part of the endodontic residency program. He moved back to Kalamazoo following his graduation in 1987 from The University of Illinois.. What is a Root Canal? A root canal is needed when the pulp of the tooth has become inflamed or infected by decay,trauma,or repeated dental procedures. Your endodontist will evaluate the tooth and your symptoms,take a radiograph and determine which tooth requires treatment.