I've read some pretty bad reviews about Aspen Dental and my experience has been the complete opposite from the moment I made the appointment. I truly have never had a more thorough exam and they even scan for cancer spots! Anyhoo.. from beginning to end the staff has been knowledgeable, competent and friendly and the location is clean! Also want to give a shout out to Jeanie and Melissa for taking such good care of me. read more

The doctor and staff were exceptionally professional and friendly. I was fitted for new dentures and when I had a slight issue it wasn't " you will get used to it" but rather let us make it perfect. I would highly recommend the Cleveland crossing office to all who have dental issues. read more

Absolutely the best staff!! I'm down here on a family emergency, and broke my front tooth. Made an appointment online, and was seen the next day. They got me right back and later that day, had a temp crown on.. They knew I was leaving to go back home the next week, and put a rush on my perm crown. Cannot thank them enough for the amazing service!!! read more

I was lucky to find them open on a Saturday- only once or twice a month. Very clean very professional looks like they do it all full service. They took lots of x-rays all the staff was very friendly and thorough. They were able to prescribe an antibiotic and set up an appointment for extraction in a couple of weeks. So far so good. read more

The stuff is very helpful and friendly. They provided excellent care and service with my teeth cleaning and tooth removal. They thoroughly explained my needs and provide excellent options for me to have healthy teeth and gums. read more

Friendly staff, horrible dentist! I found Dr Wright to be condesending with a terrible chairside manner. My veneers came out horrible for the money I paid Most dentists will ask you at least once during a procedure, if you are doing ok.Not her. I'm so disappointed with how the work came out. I'll be taking my business elsewhere. Steer clear of this chain. read more

I am a current patient in the Palm Coast office and though the INITIAL times were good, I had a cleaning and the person DRILLED INTO MY TOOTH and made me leap out of the chair in pain. Later, the tooth BROKE and left a gaping-painful hole in my mouth. I complained to the dentist and they insist that I was scheduled to have "fillings" done and that was part of the treatment. Keep in mind that I went through Care Credit and EVERYTHING was pre-paid. There was NEVER a mention of "fillings" when my teeth were extracted, this wasn't mentioned when I was fitted for dentures, this wasn't mentioned when that person drilled into my teeth and caused this, and this wasn't mentioned when I went back TWICE for soft refitting. This "phantom treatment" was ONLY mentioned when I complained that THEIR person made a mistake and they pulled this "treatment crap" on me AND CHARGED ME FOR IT!!! They made me pay $250 that day and said I owed them and additional $177 on my next visit. Again, I "prepaid" for everything, so WHY am I being charged for something that WASN'T in the "plan" or addressed the previous FIVE times? I am being punished for something that was/is THEIR FAULT and instead of owning up to their screw-up and fixing it, they made it MY problem and charged me for it. This is BS! read more

Great dental care. First time visit was very professional. Highly recommend. Most up to date procedures.

I don't like going to the dentist, but I must say I like Aspen Dental. The people at this location are so nice and professional. Everything was explained in detail to me. I asked a lot of questions and they made me feel very comfortable. The place was clean which is something I look for. My experience was very positive! David Santamaria is very professional. read more

This place requires 60% deposit to schedule you for services to.be done. Every single sppt I have had they cancel and reschedule. I'm so disappointed. This time was a whitening. I waited 2 weeks for the appt. I had a big event the weekend following my Tuesday qppt. They cancelled it...late Monday afternoon. I already paid too. This is just WRONG. Stop.over booking and eliminate the 30 minute wait as well for a scheduled appt. Not the best Dental Practice. Seems unorganized and a lot of the dental techs leave. Anyway. I wouldn't make this practice my first choice. read more

Not to be trusted. Seems like a lot of people need deep cleanings around here. They scheduled me for 3 big procedures within 5 weeks, crown, extraction and whole mouth deep cleaning. I paid my deposit and went home where there was no high pressure sales pitch and I could go over the treatment plan. I spent 10 years working in dentistry and saw what Dr. Wang was doing, all the high dollar procedures were scheduled first and the chipped tooth that I went in for was no where to be found. High pressure sales and I think they're pretty shady. Did you know that it takes 7 weeks to get a refund. I do. read more

They billed me wrong and i had to call the corporate head quarters in Colorado to fix it. I needed a simple extraction and they would not do it they gave me a oral surgeon to go to that i did not need, and of course this guy takes no insurance. And they gave me xrays that it did not need. And the manager is a nasty person. read more

My experience with Aspen Dental in Palm Coast was a long process yet good until the very end. I had my temporary partial denture and it was time for my last appointment where I was told by David would be on Aug 4, 2022 where I would be given my permanent partial (which he added was all ready and in the locations lab). I had paid in full up to this point as well as utilizing my insurance. The week of my appointment I received a call from I assume a CSR and she was cancelling my last fitting because she said I had to have a $400 cleaning before they would give them to me. This was the first I had heard about a mandatory cleaning. My husband went to their office and got absolutely NO satisfaction. It was like they were holding my partial plate for ransom!! It is now almost a year later and still nothing from them. I will try one more time to contact them and get this straightened out before I seek legal advice. Thank you, Leslye Y Kauthe read more

My husband has continued to go here until NOW New cleaning hidden fees include a $48 FLUORIDE treatment which is not covered by our insurance nor was it disclosed to us until we got a bill. Money grubbing crooks read more

Ridiculous is what I would say. First time I went, staff was extremely friendly and very kind (not in reception). However, after my initial assessment, I spoke with the " office manager" I mean SALES PERSON on treatment plan. I was told that I needed a deep cleaning and a list of what was needed along with the price after insurance. I agreed even though it seemed a bit high but not as high as other locations. She wanted me to pay immediately and come back later for treatment. Okay I guess. I came back got the first part of my treatment and the hygienist made a point to tell me that they were out of toothbrushes and I could get it on the next treatment I was scheduled to receive. When I looked at the paperwork upon checking out, I saw a charge of $137.00 and asked what that was about since I'd already paid in full. I was told it was a mistake and it would be removed. Okay I guess. When I came back for my final treatment and was done, I was given a very nice Oral B electric toothbrush. I thought that was awesome, never got one like that before just the regular manual ones. I went home and gave it to my son as I already had a more expensive one at home that was used daily. I looked in the bag and saw a coupon for a rebate and thought something wasn't right. I called and was told that I could send it in for a rebate to "get some money back" Now, that was just crazy. I was never supposed to be charged for a toothbrush. I was directed to the same manager I mean "SALES PERSON" the next day and she proceeded to tell me that the toothbrush was part of my "treatment plan". Now WAIT, we NEVER discussed anything about a toothbrush AT ALL. So I told her that she KNEW she never said a word about that and the fact that I had already owned one (and of better quality at that) it made no sense that I would agree to that (now I see why they were so called "out of toothbrushes"). At that point I was completely upset. She says, well you can bring it back for a refund. Now that my son had already opened and used the thing it was obviously not returnable. I told her I was extremely upset that I was essentially tricked into purchasing something completely unneeded and her muted response is that she would make a note for future customers. Wow! I called the company, headquartered in Syracuse, to complain and was told to return it to the manufacturer for a refund due to their "satisfaction guarantee" policy. Double WOW! Since I was not about to go through all that hassle. I just kept the thing. At that point, it was NOT about the money, but the principal. Just very deceiving business practice. They definitely lost money for any recurring business from me over a measly $137.00. If they did that to me, imagine what they do to others and insurance billing? Simply ridiculous, STAY AWAY from that place! read more

If I could give no stars, I would, as Aspen Dental tried to scam me. We has just moved to Palm Coast back in Oct 2022, and we were out bike riding, and came across Aspen Dental on Palm Coast Parkway. I was due for a cleaning in two months, and thought to get an appt on the books. I was asked to come back later, there was a cancellation for the afternoon. After two hours, I had received full-rays, a hygienist visit, the dentist came and briefly looked in my mouth, then I was shuffled off to some financial person. The hygienist claimed my teeth were in need of deep cleanings, had lots of "5s" around my gum lines, and bleeding. Now, I had seen my last dentist in another state for 20 years, and was last there four months prior. All of sudden, my teeth are in bad shape? What the heck? Anyway, the financial person claimed I had great insurance, and the three deep cleanings I needed would cost me $1200 out of pocket, each! What? And, my insurance only pays for two, so I would have to pay the entire bill for the third. I told the young lady, no thanks, I only want a regular cleaning. She told me that was not an option. To say I was shocked is an understatement, and I told her what a scam and left. Yesterday, I had a dentist appt elsewhere, and didn't say anything to them about my experience with Aspen Dental until after the cleaning. The dentist told me my teeth were in perfect condition and gums healthy. They should be, I brush, floss and gargle twice a day. The hygienist told me, before the cleaning, that my teeth were the cleanest she's seen in weeks! And, the gum test resulted in two areas that had a "4", but that is to be expected around a crown, and of course, no bleeding. read more

They never pick up their Phone and when they do they put you on hold for a long time and no one ever comes to the phone. I had my first appt and after I told them what ins I had like twice they never called me back to schedule my appt for cleaning and they would schedule me until they verified my ins. I had to finally call the Daytona office to schedule. read more

Visited this location a little over a year ago to have chipped tooth fixed. The same filling had popped out so I went today to see if they would warranty this since it came out so soon after my last visit, after all I have fillings in my mouth that are over 40 years old . They charged me over $90 to tell me that I if I wanted it refilled I would have to pay again. When I questioned the girl that gave me the pricing about the quality of the previous work and the dentist findings she became very condescending, dismissive and lacked empathy for my situation. I do not recommend this place since they do not stand behind their work. read more

I went to Aspen Dental for a cleaning & periodontal-scaling & root planning that was supposed to be part of my Humana plan. They said it was not covered on the exam. After full x-rays & exam they cam up with a treatment plan for other work like crowns, root canals, core buildups, periodontal-scaling & root planning to the tune of $6,700. Never did get the cleaning I went in for that Humana said should be paid in full. They are all about getting the money & don 't give a Rats ass about the customer. Danica Patrick's race car costs a lot of money to repair & Aspen wants you to pay for it read more

Corporate dental office, rap music playing, not professional. Charged me $1300.00 for a cleaning I was in there for 40 minutes? Go to a another place, this place is a scam. read more

Terrible management and customer service, especially in the financial area. The Office Manager /Financial Manager, Alex, at the Palm Coast FL location has avoided my calls for assistance with an erroneous invoice, for weeks. This tells me she knows nothing about customer service and lacks overall management skills and is afraid to discuss a complicated issue. She has the receptionists trained to avoid calls. If not for caring for an elderly parent, I would have gone in person..but something tells me she would still avoid speaking to me. There are plenty of other options in and around Palm Coast FL. Don't let this place steal your money and provide no help or contact. read more

Don`t go to Aspen Dental in Palm Coast, they will take so many xrays that arent necessary for a cleaning They assess your whole mouth and give you a big price..... I wanted a cleaning and they did it. Then they tell me to go to another room and this guy starts drilling for a implant.... Didn`t tell me what they were doing, They put a fee of 4,238.40 on my care credit..... I went back 2 days later and ask what it was and they said an estimate for other work. I`m not paying this price and it is in dispute , so they charge for work that hasn`t even been done yet!!! They have you sign so many papers and don`t give you a chance to read them... You don`t get a copy of the papers either... It is a big scam if you ask me. I will never go there or recommend them to anyone. I offered to pay for my cleaning but they said I could not because it is in dispute... As far as I can tell just putting the implant rod is a price of 2,243.00 of which I never wanted it put in anyway. The whole bill on Care Credit is 4,238.40 they had no business charging me an estimate for work not even done!! Candice Beitman, my number is 772-321-1571 read more

I gave them av2 because no issue with dental serves. My issue is with the staff that takes care of insurance approval. I waited 2 weeks waiting for my pretreatment to arrive at my insurance. 2nd phone call I reminded them that it was no Met Life but MetLife Federal. They had a copy of my card and I had been going to them for several years. Geez. My insurance declined the pretreatment estimate because they didn't have the dentist in their network. I called Aspen Dental in Palm Coast to speak with them about this twice. Both times I was told Corporate would catch up with this. It has now been 25 days since first phone call. I am done waiting and will see a different dentist. The estimate without insurance was over $15,000 and with insurance about &8,600. Their loss. read more

If I could give zero stars I would. I've had nothing but problems with Aspen ever since November of 2017. They had no problem taking thousands of dollars to make my dentures but they definitely have a problem making them to fit or comfortable. They offer excuse after excuse and keep charging me more money (never leave them w an unpaid balance unless you're 100% satisfied, that was the first mistake I made). When you have an issue the head dentist/ owner Dr. Rennie doesn't even go to the Palm Coast office anymore so they will send you all the way to Palatka to see him. I've made a formal complaint w corporate and honestly I would suggest you go almost ANYWHERE that is not Aspen. They push and upsell you and really don't care how the product fits or how you adapt and to top it off today the locking mechanism for my impact came off of the denture after only about a year of having them and they think it's ok for me to have to wait 6 days until Tuesday to fix it. Beyond disappointed and definitely do NOT recommend. read more

Aspen Dental - Palm Coast, FL - Broken denture after only 1 year. 6 days until they can offer me an appointment to fix it. - General Dentistry Near Me - Palm Coast, Florida

My experience was not a good one. After leaving the office and paying the bill. I received an additional bill for services not performed. I have called several times and each time they tell me that I do not owe any additional, but now I have derogatory mark on my credit record. What a bunch of crooks! Very unprofessional. read more

Excellent customer service and informative staff! Everyone was very friendly and made me feel at ease.

First time appointment with the office in Palm Coast. I was greeted by Marissa. She was kind and patient and professional. This office is very very lucky to have her. Half way through my appointment I found out they didn't accept my insurance but the staff and the doctor still took the time to talk to me about my situation and treated me with respect and compassion. I've worked in doctors offices for 15+ years and Marissa was just 100% impressive. It may look easy but what she does is not easy and she absolutely nailed it!! Great job Marissa! read more

My experience at the Palm Coast aspen dental was great until the very end. Prior to seeing the dentist for my last appointment I settled my account with the young man at the front desk. Two weeks after the appointment I received a $1032.00 bill. I had paid in full prior to appointment so I ignored the bill. This month I received another bill. For three days I called the accounting/billing number and no one would answer the phone!!! I tried at least 10 times. So I finally called the number to make an appointment which was answered on the second ring. I explained everything to the gentleman that answered the, David Santamaria (I hope I spelled that correctly). David was very professional, stating he could see the system was reporting I owed the $1032.00, but he could also see that my account was marked paid in full at my last visit. David requested time to research the issue and promised a call back the same day. He called me about 90 minutes after we spoke and explained what had happened and how he had resolved the issue. Aspen should hire some people like David to answer the account/billing phones. Thank you David! read more

Would not honor the pricing terms of my high option dental insurance (PPO) even though they said they would when I made the appointment.

I figured I'd try them out when my normal dentist changed practices and moved further away. Over the course of two years, I had a single set of x-rays taken, went through three different hygienists, and caught up on hours and hours of home improvement shows as they never failed to make me wait 30-60 minutes. The final straw was when one of the various hygienists failed to properly record a new appointment and I arrived 6 months later and waited around a half hour only to be told "we have no record of your appointment." So I ask for a new appointment through gritted teeth, come back two weeks later, wait an hour, and am told they likely won't have time to perform an x-ray (which I had to deliberately ask for during the prior visit) in addition to my cleaning. Mind you, this is after they had already charged me within minutes of my walking through the door. I asked for a refund and got the heck out of there. read more

Don't go here. There a lot of them, go to a different location. The people are unprofessional and made numerous mistakes. First of all, after taken to the back for my X-rays, I sat in the exam room for half an hour just for the dentist to come in and tell me I had cavities. Which I already knew that's why I was coming in, I had missed the time between check up and fillings. I asked the dentist if there was a way an alternative form to the shot that numbs your mouth. She said I can take Valium. I had only thought of that for anxiety, so I thought it would reduce the pain of the shot. She said no, you would just take the pill. I said that sounds great to me, pill over shot. I asked about how I'm supposed to get the pill and they said they would send it. 5 days before after talking to a friends mother (dentist) she said that I was correct, it will not numb my mouth just help anxiety. I called Aspen, they said there was "miscommunication" because it does not numb, she gave it to you to calm your nerves. I told her that I did not have any anxiety towards shots, I just do not like the ones that are given in my mouth because they hurt in comparison to those in the arm. I would prefer and alternative but I don't mind getting the shot if that's the only option. On the phone she said "maybe it's because your cavities are shallow and you don't need it cause they won't be hitting any nerves." Checked my charge and that was so. However, my dentist did not mention that all, and gave the illusion that it was an alternative to a shot. I asked when the prescription would be filled and they said Thursday. Nope, not filled. Showed up to Publix without a prescription. Then when I got there the dentist had out a shot and I asked what she was doing and she said "oh I forgot we discussed not using a shot." Obviously, everyone patient is the same to them... After checking out the receipt said I owed $126 but when I asked if anything was due today she said no. So I left I wasn't pleased with the service so why not leave. My mother called later and they said that the billing was incorrect and I only owe $30. If you do go, please double check your billing and don't trust them to do things on their own! P.s. I don't see where to post a photo but she also cut me. I squinted in pain and she thought it because she didn't use the numbing shot but I was right, she cut me. read more

Best place ever great doctors great staff everyone was amazing I would highly recommended this office!

As much as I don't like going to the dentist, I have to say I like Aspen Dental. The people at this location are so nice and professional. Everything was explained in detail to me. I asked a lot of questions and they made me feel very comfortable. They offer good financing options which helped because my mouth was a mess. Not once did I feel judged or ashamed when I went there. The place was also very clean which is something I look for. My experience was very positive! read more

I am writing this letter of formal dispute and protest over the outrages charge of $906.00 for a half hour teeth cleaning and how I was tricked into believing that my insurance would pay for the bill when it did not. After receiving my first bill of $195.00 from Aspen Dental that was made to look like the total bill, i was angry after being told by the Aspen Dental /Palm Coast billing dept. Lady my insurance would take care of it but figured I would pay it any way only to receive a second bill for $516.00 a week later from Dental First. I sent off 2 formal letters of dispute and protest and received a letter on 5-29-19 telling me they would review my dispute and that I should wait and that it could take months. After waiting for over half a year i have yet to receive an answer to my dispute only to get a monthly bill from Dental First that increases every month and is now around a thousand dollars. When I call them they only want money and won't talk about my dispute. The three separate points of my formal complaint are as follows: 1. At the time of service I repeatedly told the payment billing lady that i was in a bad financial situation and did not have money to pay a large bill and the billing lady (young with long black hair) clearly told me that I had good insurance (Humana) and not to worry about getting stuck with a big bill. we had this discussion at least twice as i wanted to make it very clear that I could not get stuck with a big bill for a teeth cleaning. I also remember her telling me that all the signing and questions are a formality. Let me say at this point that as I am getting older I am seeing a lot of doctors and always rely on their billing dept to make sure my insurance will cover the service so i know there is a way to do this and I do not have this problem with any other healthcare provider. I don't think but KNOW! this young lady intentionally mislead me into thinking my insurance would take care of this charge... again i was told my Humana insurance was good and I should not worry. 2. I have researched online and have collected evidence that charge gouging with unneeded antibiotics are a tactic used by unscrupulous dental providers. I even spoke to my cardiologist during a visit and was told that since it was over a year after my surgery that I was fully healed and had no more risk from infection than anyone else my age. I also had no gum problems and flossed regularly with no bleeding. I am extremely upset over being mislead over my insurance coverage and being oversold antibiotics which boosted most of the cost and not being told the real bill i would end up with. I would have walked out the door if I had been told. 3. It was never clearly explained to me that i was getting involved with an actual credit card company with a 30 percent interest rate. I don"t believe in traditional credit cards and do not own even one! I feel this is just one more example of underhanded tactics that Aspen Dental uses to take away your money and than separate themselves from the crime by saying "oh, that's between you and the credit card company" it seems that every corner of Aspen Dental is filled with manipulation in order to take you"r money. I am also extremely upset that after I made my formal dispute i was told to wait and left to hang in the breeze while my bill just grew and grew. I also do not for a second believe that this issue is between me and Dental first. Aspen Dental Palm Coast is who mislead me on the above points and Aspen Dental Palm Coast is who put me in this position, no one else! And if we can not come to a mutual agreement to end this i am ready to make the following protests: Formal letters of complaint to the American Dental Association, The Florida Board of Dentistry, The Better Business Bureau and any other consumer complaint agency such as Yelp, Angies List, and any other online blog that I can find. Also T.V. stations such as Fox 30 and the Action News Jaxs consumer complaint line as well as local radio stations or anyone else who will listen. I will use public relations and press releases, etc... I am an old retired guy who feels he was wronged and will make this a personal project until we can reach an agreement. Let me close by saying I am a rational person who pays his bills but feels he was wronged, I do not feel I do not owe anything just not this outrageous amount. How can such a simple procedure turn into such a nightmare? I feel it is my duty (if not able to solve this issue) to help others see Aspen Dental for who they are. read more

I will say that Aspen Dental in Palm Coast took away all of my fears they are very professional and caring. Dr. Peterson explained the entire procedure at length on my first visit and assured me of the results and care I would receive. Dr. Peterson took the time to check up on me when I had appointments scheduled for work that she wasn't involved with on those days. I appreciated the true feelings of caring. I cant say enough about Jody, she was awesome always a smile and always professional. Jody takes pride in her work and strives for perfection with her patients. Great people ! Great results ! read more

Horrible service and incompetence. Every visit had issues. First they had Saturday hours and thats why we selected them, then without notice, no Saturday hours. Showed up for crown only to find they crown had not arrived and office manager said she "meant" to call but did not. Just one issue after another. Stay away from this office! read more

I went to Aspen for my first visit and was very happy with everyone at the facility. I dealt with 5 different people and each person was very cheerful, professional and helpful. The facility was well-organized and clean. The only reason I didn't give the full 5 stars was because of the time I spent waiting to be seen initially (about a half hour after my appointment time). I have not had any procedures done yet...this was a long visit which covered what will need to be done. read more

I came into this office with my mother to have a filling replaced, once we arrived they told my mom they could not replace the filling. That they would need to do two root canals and a deep cleaning. They made an extensive plan for what needed to be done and seemed to care. However, when presented with the issue that we didn't have $6000 for root canals and so forth right away, we agreed to do two tooth extractions instead because they told us this issue needed to be handled immediately. When they thought they were gonna get $6000 from us, they had a plethora of discounts and so on to apply to "try and help", however, when we decided to go with the cheaper fix... Suddenly they had "forgotten" about the 20% coupon advertised BY them on THEIR website. Needless to say, it took under one minute for the office staff to swipe my card and take an entire payment but I would have to wait 7-10 business days for my PARTIAL refund to cover the more than $100 refund from the coupon applied AFTER we had to bring it to their attention (them being the ones who promised to give us the best prices possible given our difficult financial situation). Once we got home, my mother talked it over with my father and we all felt uncomfortable about the whole thing. When we called to cancel in order for us to get a second opinion, again I was given the "okay, sorry you're not happy... you'll get your money back in 7-10 business days and then a dial tone". Now, I'm not usually one to speak down on companies and people who are clearly standing to help but THIS PLACE Is 100% all about they money. Clearly, no thought was given to my mothers obviously emergent dental situation. So, now we are out $500+ when we need it the most because she still has to get this entire issue fixed immediately and on top of that, Christmas is two weeks away. Clearly this has been a major issue for us and we did not receive so much as an apology. Extremely dissatisfied. I would never recommened this place to anyone, not even my worst enemy. Also, upon trying to complete this review Inrealized their website will NOT allow you to submit a negative review. Positive reviews only or you will be redirected to a "server not found" error page. read more

Aspen Dental gets you in the door on there discount then when you need any type of work above and beyond routine work they charge 300% more than most dentists would. read more

Today I got my new dentures at another dentist. After 7 months of excuses as to why my teeth did NOT fit. The new ones fit perfect from another dentist! I could not even bite bread and Aspen dental told me I did not have enough bone left as I'm 84 years old. I was warned about cooperate dental offices but the payment plan attracted me. My new perfect fit lower teeth only cost $950.00 and I can bite anything. UPDATE: Aspen dental finally refunded my credit account they opened. Then they changed their mind and reopened my balance..These people are not honest at all. I have forwarded all information to my attorney and am waiting the their next move.. UPDATE: Now I am being harassed by the finance company even though I paid the final balance of $2.60 before Aspen dental reversed the refund and want me to pay for teeth that I don't have. I returned them with my receipt for my new dentures. I told the finance Company that I rent and have no money other than social security and would not pay for teeth I didn't get. Aspen is a terrible company to try and rip off a 84 year old woman living on her own. I don't understand how they even think I owe them anything..... I gave them numerous appointments trying to make this work. I spent endless hours waiting in the Aspen waiting room. Aspen dental Falsely advertises that they have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. I just want this to end I have many health issues and this is exhausting me with worry... read more