He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Cellular Biology from the University of Kansas in 1978. He then attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1982. He completed a residency in pediatric dentistry in 1991 at the Children’s Mercy Hospital and the UMKC School of Dentistry in Kansas City, Missouri. Also in 1991, Dr. Fales earned a Master of Science in Oral Biology from UMKC School of Dentistry.