Stranger Things' Gaten Matarazzo updates fans after having surgery for cleidocranial dysplasia
3 February 2020, 14:47
Gaten had his supernumerary teeth removed in a four hour surgery.
Gaten Matarazzo has revealed that his fourth surgery for rare bone condition cleidocranial dysplasia was a success. The Stranger Things star had 14 supernumerary teeth (extra teeth in the gums) extracted to expose six of his adult teeth.
Gaten updated fans on Instagram giving a thumbs up to camera despite being all bandaged up. "Though my expression in this picture may not show it, the surgery was a complete success," he wrote, alongside the photo. "This was such a big one, it may be the last one I need. Hopefully at least. 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.
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"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. Again, if you’d like to learn more about cleidocranial dysplasia, you can go to ccdsmiles.org. Thanks again everyone."
Cleidocranial dysplasia is a skeletal condition which mostly affects the bones and teeth. It can result in the growth of additional teeth. Gaten has previously opened up about wanting to raise awareness of the condition and he's also admitted that it had stopped him from being cast in acting jobs before.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live in 2016, Gaten said: "My lisp, me being shorter, and having the teeth issue meant writers couldn't 'write in my disability'."
