Quality Dental Plan (QDP) and the Oral Cancer Foundation are working together for National Oral Cancer Awareness Month this month by providing free oral cancer screenings at Kuhn Dental Associates in Aberdeen.

Oral cancer, if caught early, is very treatable. The No. 1 way to help catch/prevent oral cancer is by yearly dental screenings during a routine visit, a news release from Kuhn Dental said.

To help create a greater awareness of oral cancer, Drs. David Kuhn, Ritt Kuhn and Mandy Kuhn Grimshaw will offer free oral cancer screenings Friday.

QDP, a leading provider of pre-pay dental plans, and the Oral Cancer Foundation are pushing to create awareness about oral cancer as it is becoming increasing common among people in their 20s, the release said.

It is not just tobacco users anymore who are fighting the disease. Doctors are seeing more and more 20-somethings who are developing oral cancer from HPV, the release said. It is estimated that 37,000 people are diagnosed every year in the United States with oral cancer, and more awareness needs to be done to help prevent the disease.

"At QDP, our goal is to help everyone be able to afford to go to the dentist," Dr. David Kuhn said. "It is so important to have regular visits, and oral cancer is just one of the reasons everyone should see their dentist twice a year.

"For those who do not have dental insurance or are unemployed, they are invited to join QDP and the Oral Cancer Foundation to receive a free oral cancer screening at one of our QDP offices."

Millions of Americans are unable to receive the treatment they need because they lack dental insurance.

QDP is offered at an inexpensive yearly fee and is an alternative to dental insurance that can cost thousands of dollars for minimal benefits, the news release said.

QDP is pre-pay dental service that provides patients with free initial exams, X-rays and two dental cleanings, and patients can rest assured they are only paying for what they need.

It is an affordable family dentistry that opens its doors to those who are unemployed or do not have insurance.

QDP is a national company that is run by local dentist to help promote good dental health.