PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tooth observation apparatus by which teeth can be observed without executing replacement work in any case to observe the upper jaw teeth or the lower jaw teeth along the dentition direction in order.SOLUTION: The tooth observation apparatus 1 includes: two illumination light emission parts 6a, 6b arranged faced at a distance interposing a tooth A so as to be arranged faced to both sides an imaging device 8b to photograph return light from the tooth A when the tooth A is irradiated with the illumination light from the illumination light emission parts 6a, 6b two light guide routes arranged on both sides interposing the tooth A to guide return light from the tooth A to the imaging device 8b a light emission setting part 12 to alternatively set the illumination light emission parts 6a, 6b to be lit on and a light guide route switching part 13 to alternatively switch the two light guide routes when the illumination light emission parts 6a, 6b to be lit on by the light emission setting part 12 are set.COPYRIGHT: (C)2012,JPO&INPIT【課題】上顎の歯牙あるいは下顎の歯牙のどちらを歯列の方向に沿って順に観察していく場合においても、交換作業を行うことなく観察を行う。【解決手段】歯牙Aを挟んで両側に対向配置されるように間隔をあけて対向配置された2つの照明光発光部6a,6bと、該照明光発光部6a,6bからの照明光を歯牙Aに照射したときの歯牙Aからの戻り光を撮影する撮像素子8bと、歯牙Aを挟んで両側に配置され、歯牙Aからの戻り光を撮像素子8bまで導く2つの導光路と、点灯させる照明光発光部6a,6bを択一的に設定する発光設定部12と、該発光設定部12により点灯させる照明光発光部6a,6bが設定されたときに、2つの導光路を択一的に切り替える導光路切替部13とを備える歯牙観察装置1を提供する。【選択図】図1
