-----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,
 KkiHcRsk28eVBjNvG0vLqptXK6WvVGUROkw1xByRo9Rcp+uZ3hKxrY0q8DmCw32N
 g87satPLUSrPrF0esKGEfQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179110-04-005961.txt : 20040312
<SEC-HEADER>0001179110-04-005961.hdr.sgml : 20040312
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040312170734
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179110-04-005961
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040312

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATTHEWS NORMAN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001178445

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27078
		FILM NUMBER:		04666873

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		650 MADISON AVENUE, 23RD FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		650 MADISON AVENUE, 23RD FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10022

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 -
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001178445</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MATTHEWS NORMAN S</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></nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>70.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired pursuant to the Issuer's 1996 Non-Employee Director Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the terms of the stock option agreement between the Issuer and the Reporting Person, the option becomes exercisable in four (4) equal annual installments beginning on the first (1st) anniversary of the grant date specified in Column 3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Norman S. Matthews</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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