8-K

                                   FORM 8-K


                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



                ----------------------------------------------


                                CURRENT REPORT
                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                        Date of Report January 10, 2005
                       (Date of earliest event reported)


                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC
                (Exact name of Company as specified in charter)



                      Delaware           0-16211       39-1434669
              (State of Incorporation) (Commission   (IRS Employer
                                       File Number)  Identification No.)




            221 West Philadelphia Street, York, Pennsylvania    17405
                  (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)



                                (717) 845-7511
               (Company's telephone number including area code)












Item 5.02. - Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of
Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.

   The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 5.02(c) related to
the appointment of certain new officers.

   On January 10, 2005, the Company appointed Mr. William R. Jellison to the
position of Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The
announcement related to this appointment is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1
and is hereby incorporated by reference. The terms of Mr. Jellison's
employment agreement with the Company are hereby incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.15 of the Company's 1998 Form 10-K filed on March 26, 1999.


Item 9.01. - Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)  Financial Statements - Not applicable.

(b)  Exhibits:

    99.1 The announcement related to the appointment of Mr. William R. Jellison
         to Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer released on
         January 10, 2005 as referenced in Item 5.02.







SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC
                                                   (Company)



                                           /s/Brian M. Addison
                                              Brian M. Addison
                                              Vice President, Secretary and
                                              General Counsel

Date: January 11, 2005

EX-99

Contact:
                                    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
George Rhodes
Corporate Communications
(717) 849-4273




                   DENTSPLY ANNOUNCES EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS


York, PA -January 10, 2005 - DENTSPLY  International Inc.  (Nasdaq-XRAY)  today
announced  the  appointments  of Mr.  Bret  W.  Wise,  44,  to  Executive  Vice
President and Mr. William R.  Jellison,  46, to Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer.

The  announcements  were made by Mr. Gary K.  Kunkle,  Jr.,  Vice  Chairman and
Chief  Executive  Officer,  who  commented,  "Both  gentlemen  have excelled in
their  DENTSPLY   positions.   They  are  valuable  executive   performers  and
outstanding   contributors  to  the  growth  and  strategic  direction  of  the
business."

Mr. Bret W. Wise joined  DENTSPLY in November of 2002 as Senior Vice  President
and Chief  Financial  Officer.  He has proven himself to be a capable leader in
working  with  the  Company's   operating  groups  in  strategic   finance  and
operating matters as well as enhancing the Company's  financial  accounting and
disclosure  controls  in  response to the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002.  In his
new position as Executive Vice  President,  he will assume  responsibility  for
two of the four operating  senior vice  president  positions with primary focus
in  North  America  and  Europe,  as  well  as  business  development,  and the
research and development function.

He came to the  Company  following  a very  successful  career  with the  Ferro
Corporation  of  Cleveland,  OH, where he served as senior vice  president  and
CFO.  Prior to this he held an  executive  position  with WCI Steel,  Inc.,  of
Warren, OH, and was formerly a partner with KPMG.

A Certified Public  Accountant,  Mr. Wise earned his Bachelor of Science degree
in accounting  from the Indiana  University  School of Business in Bloomington,
IN.

Mr.  William  R.  Jellison  joined  DENTSPLY  in April of 1998 as  Senior  Vice
President  and Chief  Financial  Officer.  During his tenure in that  position,
he was  instrumental in  transforming  the financial  organization  into a true
strategic  partner within the Company.  To broaden his operational  experience,
in November of 2002, he was appointed  Senior Vice  President  responsible  for
the  DENTSPLY  Professional   Division,  the  Company's  Asian  operations  and
worldwide endodontic  franchise comprising the Tulsa Dental,  Maillefer and VDW
Divisions.   Under   his   leadership,   those   businesses   have   made  many
contributions to the Company's success.  This operational  experience will be a
great  asset in  meeting  the  expanded  role of a Chief  Financial  Officer in
today's environment.






Mr.  Jellison  joined  DENTSPLY  after a  successful  18-year  career  with the
Donnelly  Corporation  of Holland,  MI, where he most  recently  served as vice
president of finance.

A Certified Management Accountant, Mr. Jellison earned his Bachelor's degree
in business administration from Hope College in Holland, MI. He is a member
of the Institute of Management Accountants and is also affiliated with the
Financial Executive Institute.

DENTSPLY  designs,  develops,  manufactures  and  markets  a  broad  range  of
products for the dental  market.  The Company  believes that it is the world's
leading  manufacturer  and distributor of dental  prosthetics,  precious metal
dental  alloys,  dental  ceramics,   endodontic   instruments  and  materials,
prophylaxis paste, dental sealants,  ultrasonic scalers,  and crown and bridge
materials;  the leading United States  manufacturer  and distributor of dental
handpieces,    dental   x-ray   film    holders,    film   mounts   and   bone
substitute/grafting   materials;  and  a  leading  worldwide  manufacturer  or
distributor   of  dental   injectible   anesthetics,   impression   materials,
orthodontic  appliances,  dental cutting instruments and dental implants.  The
Company  distributes  its dental  products in over 120 countries under some of
the most well established brand names in the industry.

DENTSPLY  is  committed  to  the  development  of  innovative,  high  quality,
cost-effective new products for the dental market.



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