It looks like 17 year old Stranger Things star Gaten Matarazzo, known for playing the character Dustin Henderson in the hit Netflix series, has had a recent dental surgery which he claims was a “complete success”. The young actor happens to have been born with CCD, short for cleidocranial dysplasia, which is known as “a skeletal disorder characterized by open fontanelles (soft spot), small or absent clavicles (collarbones), and multiple dental abnormalities,” according to CCD Smiles.
His latest surgery was apparently a “big one” in which several medical professionals had to extract quite a bit of supernumerary teeth. In fact, there was a total number of 14 teeth removed that were growing in Matarazzo’s gums. It’s these extra teeth that have prevented his proper adult teeth from showing. But thanks to the surgery, they were able to reveal six of his adult teeth.
Here’s some of what Matarazzo stated in a new Instagram post written after the surgery:
“Those who suffer from Cleidocranial Dysplasia usually have Supernumerary teeth, which are extra teeth that grow in the gums. I’ve had several surgeries to extract these teeth from within my gums and help expose the teeth that should have already grown in considering my age,” reads Matarazzo’s post.
“In this surgery, the team of amazing medical professionals extracted 14 supernumerary teeth and exposed six of my adult teeth. I was under for four hours. My recovery for the past few days has been great and I can’t thank the team that did the surgery enough. Thank you all for your kind wishes and prayers. It means a lot.”
It’s nice to see that the surgery was a success, and hopefully we’ll be seeing him soon in Stranger Things Season 4, which is set to begin production very soon. Gaten Matarazzo is currently partnered with CCD Smiles, a nonprofit organization which helps and supports those with the condition.