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About us

Welcome to Kochkok, a mobile dental clinic dedicated to providing essential dental care to underserved areas near the Jazmoorian Wetland in Sistan-Baluchistan.

The Journey of the Kochkok Mobile Dental Clinic

In 2019, Soroush Salavatian envisioned a mobile dental clinic to serve underserved communities in Sistan-Baluchistan near the Jazmoorian Wetland. Despite interest from volunteer dentists, a lack of portable equipment hindered their efforts. The idea for the Kochkok Mobile Dental Clinic solidified during the Norooz holiday when 90 dentists volunteered, but portable dental units were unavailable. Soroush then focused on creating a mobile unit, acquiring a caravan through an auction. He modified it with the help of experts, overcoming structural and logistical challenges to transform it into a functional clinic. By mid-2021, further work was needed to ensure the caravan's durability, including resolving leaks and reinforcing the interior for dental equipment. In June 2023, after numerous repairs, Soroush and his team installed key dental tools, X-ray machines, and culturally inspired artwork by Nastaran Anbari. They launched an Instagram account, "Kochkok.dental," to recruit volunteer dentists. On March 29, 2024, the clinic journeyed from Tehran to Fanuj, encountering delays but gaining support from local communities. Operations began in April 2024, initially in the village of Jogaz, with community rapport assisting in clinic setup. Early challenges included equipment shortages and staff adjustments, but the team persevered. By June 2024, the clinic had treated 457 patients, mainly focusing on women and children. As demand increased, additional dentists and tools were acquired. By August 2024, Kochkok had served 885 patients and delivered over 4,000 dental services. Soroush’s initiative continues to bring vital dental care to remote communities, showcasing resilience, compassion, and dedication.
First Exposure to the Idea​
Prior to March 2019​

Volunteer dentists frequently expressed their interest to Soroush in providing care to people nearby the Jazmoorian Wetland, in the province of Sistan-Baluchistan.

  • During the period of 2018-2019, many dentists were eager to collaborate.
  • Unfortunately, due to the lack of equipment in these remote areas, Soroush was unable to accept their services.
The "Dental Unit" Idea
February 2019 - April 2019

A group of 90 dentists volunteered to help during the Norooz holiday. Soroush arranged a place for them to stay, but they didn't have portable dental units.

  • The lack of collaboration from the health municipality with our team sparked the idea of creating an independent mobile dental clinic.
Camper Preperatation​
April 2019 - September 2019

Soroush came up with the idea of converting a caravan into a mobile dental unit. With the help of his friends, he searched for the right caravan and successfully won one in an auction.

He eventually found a caravan he could use, but it was far from functional and required a complete overhaul to serve its new purpose.

  • He sought advice from experts on purchasing caravans.
  • He eventually discovered a caravan at an auction intended for police officers.
  • This mobile police caravan was on its way to becoming a dental unit.
Why is Kochkok a mobile clinic instead of regular dental office?

Soroush and his team determined that a mobile clinic would be more beneficial, as many underprivileged patients living in remote, inaccessible villages lacked transportation to visit a regular dental office.

Our mobile clinic traveled to these areas, making it easier for patients to access high-quality dental care without the need to travel to us.

Preperatation
September 2019 - October 2019

He eventually found a caravan he could use, but it was far from functional and required a complete overhaul to serve its new purpose

  • Soroush consulted a friend who owns an off-road business for advice on the repair process to modify the unit's function.
  • Two vehicles—a tow truck and another following closely behind—escorted the caravan to Shahsavar, and it faced significant difficulties.
Preperatation
October 2019 - July 2021

This was the period when the caravan was fully repaired. The interior of the vehicle was completely stripped out and fully renovated.

  • The structural changes transformed the caravan from residential use to a dental unit.

  • These modifications included raising the roof height.

  • This challenging step took 23 months to complete.

Dentistry Unit
July 2021 - January 2023

The caravan was hauled to Tehran, to a dental company specializing in equipping dental units. The goal of this transformation was to create a mobile dental unit equipped with all the features of an urban dental office.

  • It took them 3 months for the design and initial estimation of the dental unit.
  • It took them 9 months to repair and complete the dental unit
  • However, the dental unit was still not complete as Soroush found out about the leakage problem.
The Leakage
January 2023 - June 2023

During the caravan's stay at the dental company, Soroush discovered that the windows and ceiling were leaking, which could damage the valuable equipment inside. To fix the leakage issue, the caravan was taken to a camper construction site where caravan vehicles are built.

  • They located a business in Jajroud, Tehran, to repair the leaks.
  • What was originally expected to take three months ended up being delayed by six to seven months.
  • As anticipated, the leaks remained unfixed, and all that time was wasted.
  • Ultimately, Soroush decided to repair the caravan himself.
Final Repairs and Renovations: The Last Touch
June 2023

Soroush and his team began repairing the caravan themselves, making several modifications to address the leakage problem. The final repair process took around two weeks.

  • These repairs included replacing the windows, insulating the roof, and completing the electrical wiring.
  • The team addressed the leakage problem, installed new shades and tires, and performed a full vehicle service. 
  • They added X-ray equipment, amalgamators, an ultrasonic device, a mini-fridge, and dental materials, which were challenging to anticipate since the dentists that consulted the team had no experience setting up a unit from scratch.
  • Additionally, they replaced broken fiberglass, repaired the rear lights, and changed the window frames.
  • They purchased the final pieces of equipment during the Nowruz holiday, as Soroush was determined not to waste any time.
Exterior Designs
July 2023

There was still one more step to take. The exterior of the caravan was too plain. To make it more appealing and to connect with the people of Balouchistan while educating them, Soroush enlisted the help of his friend, Nastaran Anbari, an illustrator and graphic artist. Nastaran brought Soroush’s vision to life, illustrating a dental unit on one side and promoting dental health on the other.

  • To better connect with the children, who are the primary target population, playful childlike cartoon designs were created.
  • These designs reflected the traditional aesthetics of the region's clothing.
  • The children in the paintings were depicted smiling and enjoying themselves to help alleviate any fear of dentists.
  • These designs were later adhered to the exterior of the caravan's body.
Essential Dental Equipment
February 2024

After consulting with a few of his dentist friends, Soroush compiled a list of necessary dental equipment and began purchasing it. This challenging step required several attempts to ensure that everything was accounted for before heading to Sistan-Baluchistan.

Meeting with the Professor
March 25, 2024

The caravan seemed ready, but it still required a publicity plan, particularly a name aimed at attracting more dentists. A friend suggested that Soroush meet with Mr. Mahoudzehi, a professor of Farsi literature and Balouchi culture, who is also a Balouchi himself, and they arranged a meeting.

  • A friend suggested that Soroush meet with Mr. Mahoudzehi, a professor of Farsi literature and Balouchi culture, who is also a Balouchi himself, and they arranged a meeting.
KochKok Name & symbolization

The people of Baluchistan hold a deep appreciation for whiteness, whether in skin color or teeth, as it signifies beauty. In Baluchistan culture, the term "Kochk" is used to describe anything white. People with beautiful teeth are often said to have "Kochkin Dantan," meaning their teeth resemble the lustrous shell of an oyster. The suffix “ok” in “Kochk-ok” adds a nuance of cuteness to the shell's image.Given that the Kochkok Mobile Dental Clinic serves the people of Baluchistan, with a special focus on children, this name creates a meaningful connection with the local community. The shell symbolizes a mouth, and the pearl inside represents the valuable teeth. Our mobile dental clinic acts as a compact space, embodying the mission to provide essential services to preserve and enhance the precious “pearls” within each mouth. With the assistance of Mr. Mahmoudzehi, Soroush identified this name as a fitting representation of their mission, reflecting both cultural significance and the concept of Kochkok.

Publicity
March 27, 2024

To promote the Kochkok Mobile Dental Clinic, specifically targeting dentists, an Instagram and Linkedin account named "Kochkok.dental" has been created. Tailored hashtags related to the Kochkok Dental Clinic have also been designed and adhered to the caravan.

The beginning of the journey
March 29, 2024

Kochkok was ready to embark on its journey. Soroush and his friends made stops in multiple cities along the way to promote Kochkok. What was supposed to be a two-day journey (1800 km) ended up taking six days due to challenges in towing the caravan and a malfunction of the towing vehicle.

  • They used two cars: one for towing the camper and another as an escort vehicle.
  • Safety measures were implemented to minimize risks, including the installation of necessary improvements such as warning lights.
  • Their route took them from Tehran to Qom, Kashan, Isfahan, Yazd, Kerman, and finally Fanuj.
  • Along the way, they took the opportunity to meet with the local people, and inform them about Kochkok caravan and its mission.
  • Soroush and his team reached their final destination, Fanouj, on April 3, 2024.

Why Jogaz was Selected as the First Village?​

Our team chose Jogaz as the first village because Soroush had prior involvement with this community and knew it well. He had previously contributed to building a park, a school, and had assisted in transferring patients from Jogaz to Tehran. The strong bond and trust that Soroush had established with the people of Jogaz helped in ensuring facing fewer challenges during the initial days of Kochkok’s operations.

Challenge #1

Arranging for dentists and dental assistants required careful consideration, as it depended on the availability of professionals and flight schedules of the nearest airport, Iranshahr. This airport only has flights to and from Tehran on Thursdays and Saturdays. For dentists not residing in Tehran, it was necessary to first travel to Tehran before continuing to Iranshahr. Additionally, the two-hour transfer from the airport to Fanuj had to be taken into consideration.

  • Securing flight tickets, which may not always be available at the desired time.
  • Coordinating airport transfers, as the route to the rural area of Fanuj is not typical.
  • Arranging accommodations for the volunteer dentists and dental assistants.
Transportation to the First Site
April 7 & 8,2024

Soroush and his team began organizing the interior of the dental clinic, ensuring all equipment were working properly. They conducted thorough checks, testing the electricity, water, air supply for the equipment, and checking the functionality of the autoclave.

On April 8th, 2024, Kochkok Mobile Dental Clinic was transported to Jogaz, the first village in Fanuj where they started seeing patients.

  • The first dentist who arrived was sent back due to unprofessional behavior and exploiting the vulnerable population.
Kochkok First Working Day
April 9, 2024

Due to the necessity of sending back the first doctor, a change of plans was made to bring in another dentist. The first official dentist of Kochkok arrived on April 9th at 2 AM, and Kochkok’s first patient was seen on the same day at 10 AM.

A Typical Working Day at Kochkok

Our team traveled to the village of Jogaz everyday, a journey that took about an hour. Upon arrival, the team set up the mobile clinic to ensure everything was ready for the day’s patients. Unit preparation included filling the water reservoir, running the water, electricity, and air pumps, disinfecting the unit, preparing dental sets and protective covers for each patient, and retrieving equipment from the autoclave.

Once patients arrived at the clinic site, the dentist conducted an initial assessment, and the order of appointments was finalized. Patients with more severe pain or infections requiring urgent care were prioritized and seen first.

After each patient, the unit was disinfected, and new dental sets and trays were prepared for the next patient. Kochkok’s day typically started at 10 AM, and on some occasions, we treated patients until 3 AM.

Afterward, the team faced another hour-long transfer back to Fanuj.

  • Our team ensured that all dental hygiene protocols were followed with the same rigor and care as in a city-based dental office.
Challenges #2

As Kochkok started seeing more patients, Soroush and his team found out there were lack of dental equipment and materials. As these supplies were not available in Fanuj, Soroush had to source them from the nearby cities, which was also a great hurdle.

Challenges #3

During the first few weeks of Kochkok’s trial period, the target population of the clinic got tailored to kids and women.

July 2024 - August 2024

Our work at the Kochkok Mobile Dental Clinic continued until June 20th, 2024. During these 83 days, 12 dentists treated 457 patients from seven villages near Jogaz.

To avoid relocating the caravan every 2-3 weeks, we decided to station it in Jogaz. Our team arranged transportation for residents of the surrounding villages, saving time and reducing the need to move the caravan. The mobile clinic was later moved to our residential location in Fanuj, where the patients residing in the nearby villages to Fanuj were treated by our dentists. We also provided transportation for these patients to reach the clinic.

Why did we bring the caravan to our home?

By bringing the caravan to our residental location, we saved the time that was used to transfer the caravan to Jogaz, allowing us to treat more patients.

Challenges #4

Our team realized we needed more efficient equipment, such as electric and pneumatic handpieces (rotary tools), an RVG X-ray machine, improved lighting, and an electric suction system (to replace the hydro suction and prevent water loss). Instead of relying on manual techniques that were time-consuming, Kochkok adopted more advanced, up-to-date methods.

Challenges #5

Soroush and his team ensured that all necessary dental equipment was available, accommodating the different preferences of each dentist regarding the tools they preferred to use.

A Temporary Onsite Mini Unit

With the arrival of our 13th doctor, a restorative dentist, we recognized that certain procedures, such as tooth extractions and root canals, should have been performed by other specialists.

This realization marked the beginning of our decision to have two dentists on our team. However, with only one dental unit and two dentists, one dentist often found themselves with little to do, leading to wasted time. This was our first exposure to the idea of better utilizing the skills and time of both dentists.

To address this, we purchased a mini unit equipped with a portable medical suction system and a standard dental chair from Isfahan, which is 1,200 km away from Fanuj. The equipment was delivered to Fanuj the following day.

We created a sterile area in our residential location to serve as a temporary dental unit.

With the addition of the second dental unit, our two dentists were able to see more patients effectively.

Second Onsite Dental Unit

During the stay of the 13th and 14th dentists, our team realized that the mini unit limited our ability to perform many procedures due to ergonomic challenges with the chair. These challenges not only placed a physical burden on both the dentist and the patient but also decreased the effectiveness of our work

With Soroush's perseverance, a dental unit that was supposed to take a month was prepared in two days.

Soroush installed the new unit himself.

We also procured the necessary equipment to fully equip this dental unit. With these improvements, we were able to better utilize the specialties of our enthusiastic volunteer dentists.

  • Dental Unit Purchase date: 27 June, 2024

    Time of Shipment to Fanuj: 4 July, 2024

  • New unit start date: 6 July, 2024
  • 9 additional dentists joined our team as we began operating the second unit.
Two Dentists Treat 400 Patients
July 2024 - August 2024

From July 6th, 2024, to August 6th, 2024, we operated with two dentists in both the mobile clinic and the onsite dental office. During this time, a total of nine dentists treated 400 patients. With two dental units available, we ensured that a general dentist worked alongside a pediatric dentist, allowing mothers and children to receive care simultaneously.

  • The simultaneous coordination of having both a pediatric and a general dentist working at the two dental units posed a significant challenge, which was effectively solved with Soroush's management.
Outcomes
April 2024 - August 2024

In these four and a half months, a total of 885 patients visited Kochkok, and over 4,000 services were provided to them. During this period, there were 24 rotations of professionals across both units. 

  • 21 dentists (in 24 work shifts)
  • 13 dental assistants also contributed to Kochkok

collaboration

Welcome to Kochkok, a mobile dental clinic dedicated to providing essential dental care to underserved areas near the Jazmoorian Wetland in Sistan-Baluchistan.

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KOCHKOK

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