Our Doctors

Dr. Thanasas was raised in Riverview, Michigan.  He completed his undergraduate and pre-dentistry studies at the University of Michigan, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1989. He continued his education at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry where he obtained his D.D.S. degree in 1993. Upon graduation from the University of Michigan, he pursued his professional education at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia. He received a Specialty Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics in 1995 and a M.S. degree in Oral Biology in 1996. While at PENN, he was a Clinical Orthodontic instructor in both the Dental and Graduate Orthodontic departments.

Dr. Thanasas’ research interests included the transverse patterns of growth in human prenates, the effects of different surgical techniques on the craniofacial growth of cleft patients and the investigation of surgically assisted rapid maxillary expansion in adults. His master’s thesis included the evaluation of transverse jaw relationships in Caucasian and African-American adults.

Dr. Thanasas had his own private practice before joining the group practice in 2004 and becoming a partner in 2006. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and is a member of numerous organizations, which include the American Association of Orthodontists, Michigan Association of Orthodontists, Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists, Greek Orthodontic Society, American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association and the Detroit District Dental Society.

In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, photography, and sports of all kinds. Dr. and Mrs. Thanasas reside with their sons and daughter in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Dr. Alan “AJ” Ker was born in Buffalo, NY and was raised in Troy, MI. He graduated from Troy High School and pursued higher education at the University of Michigan after being selected for advanced admission to the University of Michigan School of Dentistry during his senior year of high school. His undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan produced a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 2001 after only three years. Having completed his pre-dental studies simultaneously, he enrolled at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry for his dental training.

He graduated 1st in his class of 111 students, obtaining his D.D.S. degree in 2005. Upon graduation, Dr. Ker was inducted into Omicron Kappa Upsilon Dental Honor Fraternity, received the Samuel D. Harris award for excellence in Pediatric Dentistry, and was given a Michigan Dental Foundation Scholarship. Following his dental training, Dr. AJ immediately pursued specialist training in orthodontics at the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. He received a specialty certificate and a M.S. degree in Oral Biology in April 2008 and was chief resident during his final year.

Dr. Ker has lectured locally and nationally on his research interests. His lecture topics include smile esthetics, optimal treatment timing of orthodontic problems, and emerging techniques and technology in orthodontics. His master’s thesis investigated how the population perceives aspects of the smile and what is considered an ideal smile. His thesis also demonstrated where certain characteristics of a smile are deviated enough to be noticed by the general public and helped establish guidelines for when the characteristics warrant correction. This work was featured as the cover article of the October 2008 Journal of the American Dental Association for its relevance and importance to all types of dental clinicians.

Dr. Ker is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics. He is also an active member of the American Association of Orthodontists, the Michigan Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists. Dr. Ker is a lifelong learner, attending many continuing education courses annually to remain current with the latest advances in providing orthodontic treatment.

Dr. Ker resides in Troy, MI with his wife Stacy, and their two children Eliana and Calvin. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and the arts of photography, music, and gardening. He loves to play and watch sports, especially his Michigan Wolverines.

Dr. Ralstrom received his D.D.S. degree from the University of Detroit School of Dentistry. He went on to complete a residency in pediatric dentistry at Children’s Hospital of Michigan where he served as Chief Resident. He returned to the University of Detroit where he earned his Master of Science degree in Oral Biology while doing research on the effects of oral electrical burns on craniofacial growth and development.

Dr. Ralstrom has been an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of Detroit. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Alumni Association of the School of Dentistry. In addition, Dr. Ralstrom has served as Associate Chief of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Co-Director of the Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. In 2006, Dr. Ralstrom was honored by his physician colleagues to be chosen Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s Alumni of the Year.

Currently, he is a member of the teaching and attending staff at Children’s Hospital of Michigan as well as an attending staff member at Beaumont, Grosse Pointe and St. John Providence. Over the years, Dr. Ralstrom has published articles on a variety of topics related to pediatric dentistry.

Dr. Ralstrom is Board Certified by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Pierre Fauchard Academy, the American College of Dentists and the International College of Dentists. He is also a member of the Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society. Dr. Ralstrom has been chosen by his peers to be recognized in the field of pediatric dentistry by Hour Magazine’s Top Dentists.

Dr. Ralstrom has been an active participant in organized dentistry on the local, state and national levels of the American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. He has been president of the Macomb Dental Society, Michigan Council of Dental Specialists and the Michigan Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.