The cast grew up on camera across nine years, so most of what changed in their smiles is ordinary: adult teeth replacing baby teeth, jaws finishing their growth, and orthodontic treatment during the teenage years. Cosmetic work came later, and only for some of them.
That distinction matters here more than on most celebrity pages, because several of the cast were children when filming started. Where a change is clearly growth or braces we say so. Where dentists suspect cosmetic work we label it as interpretation, not fact, because none of it has been confirmed by the actors or their dental teams.
The smile transformations of the Stranger Things cast have recently emerged as a notable topic of discussion across social media. Thanks to orthodontic advancements and cosmetic touch-ups, both fans and dental professionals have observed how much the smiles of the young and adult actors have changed over time. In this article, we take a closer look at each cast member's dental journey, drawing from their comments and insights from our expert team. So if you're ready, let's dive in and start with Millie Bobby Brown.
The Three Things That Actually Change a Young Smile
Before looking at individual cast members, it helps to know what you are looking at. Three processes account for almost every change in these photographs.
1. Growth
Front adult teeth arrive around age seven and look oversized until the face grows to match them. Canines follow around eleven or twelve. A smile at fifteen looks nothing like the same smile at nine, with no treatment involved at all.
2. Orthodontics
Most of the visible alignment changes in this cast are consistent with braces or aligners during the teenage years, which is the normal age for orthodontic treatment. Straightening changes a smile more than most people expect, and it is often mistaken for veneers.
3. Cosmetic work, later
Veneers and professional whitening change colour and shape in a way growth and braces cannot. When a smile becomes noticeably whiter and more uniform between one year and the next, that is usually what happened. Responsible clinics do not place veneers on teeth that are still developing, which is why this stage comes in adulthood.
Millie Bobby Brown - Eleven
In a 2024 interview, Millie Bobby Brown mentioned that young Eleven needed orthodontic treatment, and this actually reflected her own dental situation as a teenager. Photos from that time show that Millie had noticeable crookedness and alignment issues. Her recent pictures, however, make it clear that she went through orthodontic treatment and later chose veneers for a more polished look.
To close the gap near her canine teeth, dentists used a method that avoided removing too much enamel, and her front veneers were designed with a soft, slightly square shape. The final result looks very refined, but some fans still think her naturally crooked smile gave her a charming and unique look.
Finn Wolfhard - Mike Wheeler
When you look at Finn Wolfhard's smile over the years, there's no indication that he had veneers. But comparing his 2015 Stranger Things photos with his more recent ones shows that his teeth have become noticeably straighter, especially his canines. This kind of improvement can happen naturally as someone grows, but it might also be the result of orthodontic treatment. Today, Finn's smile looks more even, balanced, and mature than it did in his early teens.
Noah Schnapp - Will Byers
Looking at Noah Schnapp's photos from 2015, you can see that his teeth were completely natural, small, slightly spaced, and typical for his age. His smile's alignment had significantly improved by 2018, indicating that he might have received orthodontic treatment at that time. After 2020, his teeth started to look brighter, more symmetrical, and overall more polished, hinting at possible cosmetic treatments like whitening, light shaping, or even veneers.
Between 2023 and 2025, the change became even more obvious. His teeth looked more even in size, much whiter. Another clear improvement is the correction of the inward tilt seen in his back teeth in 2015, this has completely disappeared in his recent photos.
Gaten Matarazzo - Dustin Henderson
Gaten Matarazzo has a genetic condition called Cleidocranial Dysplasia (CCD), which affects the way his jaw and teeth develop. Because of this, he grows many extra teeth that stay trapped under the gums, causing both functional and aesthetic issues. His treatment over the years has focused on removing these extra teeth and helping his adult teeth come in correctly. In 2020, he had another surgery as part of this ongoing process.
Caleb McLaughlin - Lucas Sinclair
Back in 2015, Caleb McLaughlin's smile looked natural, a little uneven, and slightly discoloured, pretty normal for his age. By 2017, his teeth appeared brighter and more evenly aligned. When you look at his photos from 2020, his smile seems much more polished: whiter, straighter, and overall more refined. This suggests he may have had some cosmetic treatments like professional whitening, light shaping, or even a few veneers.
Between 2023 and 2025, Caleb's teeth appear longer and more proportionate, his smile has become more Hollywood-like, and the tiny spaces between his teeth seem to have disappeared.
Sadie Sink - Max Mayfield
Sadie Sink's smile has undergone significant aesthetic improvement over the years, becoming whiter, more symmetrical, and more balanced. Photographs from 2013-2015 show her teeth retaining their natural structure, with slight irregularities and a matte hue. Minor cosmetic touch-ups and initial whitening treatments during this period have resulted in initial improvements in her smile aesthetics.
After 2018, thanks to regular professional teeth whitening procedures, Sadie's teeth have become noticeably lighter in color, and their surface texture has become smoother and more uniform. Examining the images reveals that, aside from the whitening procedures, no significant cosmetic or restorative dental interventions were performed. This natural yet effective transformation of Sadie Sink's smile demonstrates the remarkable results even minimal cosmetic procedures can produce when planned correctly.
Winona Ryder - Joyce Byers
When examining recent photographs of Winona Ryder, who had a remarkably aesthetic smile even in her youth, it appears that one of her upper front teeth, in particular, has now become more symmetrical with the opposing tooth. Visual analysis suggests that veneers may have been applied to a total of six front teeth between the canines to achieve this symmetry and create a more balanced smile. Although Winona Ryder has not officially stated this, the changes in tooth form, surface texture, and color harmony provide strong evidence supporting the possibility of veneers.
David Harbour-Jim Hopper
An examination of David Harbour's dentition reveals no significant cosmetic interventions or structural changes over the years. Photographs show that his dental form and alignment largely maintain their youthful natural appearance, with no evidence of any restorative or cosmetic procedures. This suggests that Harbour maintained consistent oral and dental health and that the likelihood of him having undergone any cosmetic dental procedures is extremely low.
Natalia Dyer - Nancy Wheeler
Natalia Dyer's teeth have undergone a significant aesthetic transformation, starting from the natural and innocent smile of her childhood and continuing until 2025. The minor imperfections and natural youthful appearance of the 2010s became more aligned and brighter after 2015 with regular whitening and light cosmetic touch-ups. In 2020 and beyond, she has achieved a flawless, symmetrical, and radiant appearance, perhaps thanks to porcelain veneers and professional cosmetic procedures, that we might call the "Hollywood smile."
Charlie Heaton - Jonathan Byers
When you look at Charlie Heaton's teeth, there's really no sign that he's had any dental work done. His teeth still have their natural shape, alignment, and texture, and there's nothing that suggests he's had bonding, veneers, whitening, or any other cosmetic procedure. Everything about his smile points to it being completely natural. Based on all the photos and observations, it's clear that Charlie Heaton hasn't had any dental treatment.
Maya Hawke - Robin Buckley
Maya Hawke's smile has been practically reimagined over the years. In the early stages of her career, her teeth were completely natural, with slight discolorations and minor irregularities, a perfectly normal occurrence for most people. But as her acting career took off and her on-screen appearance became more prominent, her smile was significantly brightened and shaped by orthodontic treatments from 2015 to 2020.
What This Work Costs in Antalya, Turkey
People ask what a smile like these would cost, so here are the figures for the treatments described above, set against UK prices. These are treatment costs, not a claim about what any actor paid.
| Treatment | Antalya, Turkey | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Clear aligner treatment | GBP 800 to GBP 1,200 | GBP 2,500 to GBP 7,500 |
| Laminate veneer, per tooth | GBP 200 to GBP 300 | GBP 600 to GBP 1,000 |
| Professional whitening | $200 to $300 | EUR 400 to EUR 900 |
| Full smile makeover, 20 veneers | around EUR 5,000 | around GBP 15,000 |
If alignment is your issue rather than colour, clear aligners are usually the honest first answer and cost far less than covering the same teeth with porcelain. Our crowns vs veneers page explains the difference between the two most common cosmetic options, and the tooth shade guide covers how to pick a colour that does not look artificial.
Why Veneers Are Not for Teenagers
This page attracts a lot of young readers, so it is worth being clear about something the before and after pictures do not show.
- Teeth are still moving. Jaw growth continues into the late teens. Veneers placed before growth finishes end up in the wrong position as the jaw changes around them.
- The pulp is larger in young teeth. There is less margin for preparation before the nerve is at risk, so the same reduction that is routine at thirty can cause problems at sixteen.
- Veneers are permanent. Enamel removed at seventeen is gone for the rest of a life that may run another seventy years, with each set of veneers needing replacement every ten to fifteen.
For young patients the sensible route is orthodontics first, whitening if needed once growth is complete, and cosmetic work only after that, if it is still wanted. Often it is not.
Other smiles we have examined in the same way: Miley Cyrus and Katie Price.
Stranger Things Smiles: Frequently Asked Questions
What readers search for most about these smiles.
Neither she nor any dental team has confirmed cosmetic work. What dentists observing photographs describe is a smile that became noticeably whiter and more even between her mid and late teens, which is consistent with orthodontic treatment followed by whitening and possibly veneers. She was eleven when filming began, so much of the earlier change is simply growth.
She grew up. Her adult front teeth were still settling when the series started, and the proportions of any smile change substantially between eleven and twenty. Beyond that, the alignment improved in a way consistent with braces or aligners, and the colour became lighter. The specific treatments have not been publicly confirmed by her or her dentists.
There is no confirmation of veneers. Her smile has changed less dramatically than some of her castmates, and what has changed is consistent with growth and possible orthodontic work rather than porcelain. Distinctive natural teeth are increasingly valued in casting, and several actors have spoken about choosing not to have cosmetic dentistry for that reason.
Some of the adult cast members show changes consistent with cosmetic dentistry, while for the younger ones the changes are largely growth and orthodontics. No member of the cast has publicly confirmed veneers. Nine years of filming covers the entire period in which a child's smile naturally becomes an adult's, which explains most of what people notice.
Veneers, because they change shape, length and colour at once. Orthodontics changes position but not colour, and whitening changes colour but not shape. That is why a full transformation usually combines them in sequence: straighten first, whiten next, and restore last, once the position and shade are settled.
They can get a long way, and for many people they are enough. Braces or aligners fix crowding, spacing and bite, which is what makes a smile look untidy. What they cannot do is change tooth colour, shape or size. If your teeth are straight but worn, chipped or discoloured, orthodontics is not the treatment you need.
It depends on what is bothering you. Whitening lifts your own enamel by a few shades and does nothing about shape or position, so if colour is the only issue it can be enough and it is much cheaper than porcelain. If teeth are also crooked, chipped or uneven in size, whitening alone will disappoint.
Clear aligner treatment runs GBP 800 to GBP 1,200 in Antalya against GBP 2,500 to GBP 7,500 in the UK. Laminate veneers are GBP 200 to GBP 300 per tooth here compared with GBP 600 to GBP 1,000 in Britain, and professional whitening is $200 to $300. A full makeover of 20 veneers is around EUR 5,000.
They should not, and a responsible clinic will decline. Jaw growth continues into the late teens, so veneers placed earlier end up positioned wrongly as the face changes. Young teeth also have larger pulp chambers, leaving less margin before the nerve is at risk. Orthodontics first, then whitening after growth finishes, then cosmetic work only if still wanted.
Conclusion
Most members of the Stranger Things cast have experienced some level of dental transformation as their careers have progressed. From orthodontic improvements to whitening and cosmetic touch-ups, many of them chose treatments that helped refine their on-screen appearance. These changes highlight how common and accessible dental enhancements have become, especially for actors whose smiles play a key role in their public image.
Note: The information presented in this article about celebrities personal life and dental health is sourced from publicly available news outlets and open-source platforms. While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, some details may be speculative or not definitively confirmed. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not claim to present factual or authoritative statements. Readers are encouraged to consult official statements or verified sources for the most accurate information.