Was born with cleidocranial dysplasia, a rare genetic condition that caused him to be born without collar bones and affected the development of his facial bones, skull, and teeth. According to Gaten, his case is mild. After he was cast in "Stranger Things," his condition was written into the script. In the pilot episode, Dustin (Gaten) actually explains his condition to a school bully who mocks him about his teeth and commands him to "do the shoulder thing." Dustin obliges, bringing his shoulders together in front of his chest, which he is able to do because of the lack of collarbones.
