Fact Check: Does Milly Shapiro Have the Same Rare Disease as Gaten Matarazzo?

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Matarazzo took a similarly transparent path when he entered the spotlight. When creators Matt and Ross Duffer auditioned Matarazzo for Stranger Things in 2015, his voice and physical demeanor set him apart. Recognizing the reality of his condition, the showrunners wrote CCD directly into Dustin Henderson’s character arc in season one, explaining his lisp and missing front teeth without relying on cheap punchlines.

Between filming seasons, Matarazzo underwent several significant operations to correct his dental architecture. Individuals with CCD frequently develop supernumerary teeth, extra rows of teeth hidden under the gums that obstruct permanent adult teeth from emerging naturally. In January 2020, Matarazzo underwent an intensive, four-hour surgical procedure to extract 14 supernumerary teeth and expose six adult teeth that were trapped beneath his gumline.

By posting hospital updates and recovery photos to his millions of followers, Matarazzo brought widespread attention to an often-misunderstood disorder. He co-founded CCD Smiles, an international non-profit dedicated to funding dental reconstructive surgeries for individuals whose insurance categorizes these essential procedures as cosmetic.