Measuring apparatus and method for measuring the mobility of an object, such as a tooth, having a longitudinal axis, that is disposed in a securing medium. The apparatus includes an outer and an inner housing. The outer housing partially defines a cavity and has first and second cavity wall portions which face the cavity and position the outer housing with respect to the securing medium. The inner housing is disposed within the cavity and partially defines a chamber that receives the object. The inner housing is adapted for relative movement with respect to the outer housing. The inner housing has first and second chamber wall portions facing the chamber and first and second object contact members for engaging opposing surfaces of the object. First and second compression springs are positioned between and in contact with respective chamber wall portions and object contact members. When pressed a force transmitting member connected to the inner housing causes the inner housing to move radial to the longitudinal axis of the object. Optic fibers fixed to the outer housing and connected to a detector measure the mobility of the object with respect to the securing medium by receiving a beam of light emitted from a directional light source fixed to one of the object contact members.
