Many fans of Stranger Things are absolutely charmed by Dustin, played by Gaten Matarazzo. From the very first episodes, the character wins hearts with his charisma and his distinct appearance — he’s missing his front teeth.
That changes briefly in Season 2, when Dustin appears to have a full smile. But in Season 3, his teeth are suddenly gone again. As the season aired, confused viewers took to the internet to ask: "Why does Dustin not have teeth again?"
The real reason is simple: Gaten Matarazzo lives with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) — a rare genetic condition that affects bone development, including the growth of teeth. Normally, baby teeth fall out and are replaced by adult teeth, but with CCD, this process is delayed — sometimes into adulthood, or may not occur at all.
"With CCD, your baby teeth don't want to come out, and your adult teeth don't want to come in, and you more than likely will have more teeth than you should," Matarazzo explained at Rhode Island Comic Con.
He was also born without collarbones, another symptom of the condition.
The actor has spoken candidly about his ongoing treatment. "I will have more surgeries coming. I will have more extractions coming, more of these appliances pulling my teeth down and braces," he said. One of the most intensive procedures came in January 2020, when doctors extracted 14 baby teeth to make way for six adult ones. "This was such a big one, it may be the last one I need," he wrote on Instagram. 
Before Stranger Things, his condition made it difficult to land roles. "I remember casting directors would constantly tell me, like, 'Oh, kid. We love you, but just get those teeth in,'" he recalled on the Inside of You podcast.
That changed when he was cast as Dustin — a character originally undeveloped in the script. "What they really wanted to do was they wanted to make sure that each character in the show was unique, and they had something that was realistic and personal," Matarazzo shared. His real-life diagnosis was eventually written into the character, making Dustin’s missing teeth part of his identity on screen.
In Season 2, Matarazzo wore dentures during filming — explaining Dustin’s sudden smile. But in Season 3, he chose not to wear them. Whether with or without teeth, Gaten Matarazzo’s portrayal of Dustin remains one of the most beloved parts of Stranger Things. His openness about living with CCD has brought greater awareness to a rare condition — while adding authenticity and heart to a character fans have grown to love.
