RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER COSTS Provisions and Adjustments and Amounts Applied for All Plans by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 5,706
Provisions and adjustments	3,459
Amounts applied	(2,367)
Ending Balance	6,798
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	3,601
Provisions and adjustments	628
Amounts applied	(1,006)
Ending Balance	3,223
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	240
Provisions and adjustments	826
Amounts applied	(282)
Ending Balance	784
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,865
Provisions and adjustments	2,005
Amounts applied	(1,079)
Ending Balance	$ 2,791