Gaten Matarazzo’s Health Journey: a Complete Timeline of His Surgeries and Career Milestones
By Maya Lin-Takahashi
Q1: What medical condition causes Gaten Matarazzo’s missing teeth?
A1: Gaten Matarazzo has cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), an inherited genetic bone condition that impairs bone ossification, prevents the timely eruption of adult teeth, and causes supernumerary (extra) teeth beneath the gumline.
Q2: Did Gaten Matarazzo get fake teeth or real implants?
A2: He used temporary dentures and snap-in prosthetic teeth during early auditions and seasons of Stranger Things. His current smile, however, is largely his own natural adult teeth, which were surgically exposed and pulled down into his jaw using complex orthodontic traction over several years.
Q3: How many oral surgeries has Gaten Matarazzo had?
A3: He has undergone at least four major surgical operations. His most intensive procedure took place in January 2020, lasting four hours to extract 14 supernumerary teeth and expose six buried permanent teeth.
Q4: Can people with cleidocranial dysplasia live normal, healthy lives?
A4: Yes. CCD does not impact cognitive function or general life expectancy. It requires targeted medical management, primarily orthopedic evaluations and specialized oral-maxillofacial surgery to correct dental anomalies and monitor bone density.
Maya is a hardware enthusiast who tests and reviews smart home devices, smartphones, wearables, and audio gear. She focuses on practical consumer value and build quality.
