-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PmfK/N+FvSZmBcUszHlwtOs5f4xYV4Q8P8wYno1MQzRZ1k3ksOlc8hteEPvLAe42
 CVU5M8Lc9WZMLOeDN+rA/g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-002736.txt : 20040209
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-002736.hdr.sgml : 20040209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040209121652
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-002736
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031227
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040209

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHEIN HENRY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001000228
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-CATALOG & MAIL-ORDER HOUSES [5961]
		IRS NUMBER:				113136595
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		135 DURYEA RD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6318425500X6867

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		135 DURYEA RD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JOSEPH PAMELA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018403

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27078
		FILM NUMBER:		04576646

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MOREY MYERS BRIER & KELLY
		STREET 2:		108 N WASHINGTON AVE STE 700
		CITY:			SCRANTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18503
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7173426100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MOREY MYERS BRIER & KELLY
		STREET 2:		108 N WASHINGTON AVE STE 700
		CITY:			SCRANTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			18503
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 5 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001000228</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHEIN HENRY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HSIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001018403</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JOSEPH PAMELA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HENRY SCHEIN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 DURYEA ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>58700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>128870</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares gifted to the Pamela A. Joseph Irrevocable Unit Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Pamela Joseph</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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