-----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,
 MOGncs2aXJWv1ctGtlphzyrUw0EuEpt/0v2MKtYby2I7V5IRL6SeSyxwdSfrn7Rc
 PKZDx1Mbidaor7CpNOu67A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000818479-10-000113.txt : 20101001
<SEC-HEADER>0000818479-10-000113.hdr.sgml : 20101001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101001183102
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000818479-10-000113
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100929
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101001
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JONES LESLIE A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205119

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-16211
		FILM NUMBER:		101103700

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000818479
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DENTAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [3843]
		IRS NUMBER:				391434669
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUSQUEHANNA COMMERCE CENTER
		STREET 2:		221 W. PHILADELPHIA STREET
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17405
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7178457511

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUSQUEHANNA COMMERCE CENTER
		STREET 2:		221 W. PHILADELPHIA STREET
		CITY:			YORK
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			17405

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GENDEX CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-29</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000818479</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XRAY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205119</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>JONES LESLIE A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ASHLAR HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1921 STRAWBERRY FIELDS</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17402</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock-Director's Deferred Compensation</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.87</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25.137</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.87</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25.137</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16047.056</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Value paid in stock upon retirement</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable to this transaction</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Dividend on existing account balance</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Brian M. Addison, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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