CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Total DENTSPLY International Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,909,912	$ 1,628	$ 204,902	$ 2,320,350	$ 24,156	$ (711,650)	$ 1,839,386	$ 70,526
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	144,853			143,320			143,320	1,533
Other comprehensive income (loss)	85,300				79,357		79,357	5,943
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(16,431)		22,394				22,394	(38,825)
Exercise of stock options	33,993		(11,578)			45,571	33,993
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	6,217		6,217				6,217
Share based compensation expense	10,362		10,362				10,362
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	2,974		379			2,595	2,974
Treasury shares purchased	(79,500)					(79,500)	(79,500)
Dividends paid by noncontrolling interest	174
RSU distributions	(2,157)		(5,696)			3,539	(2,157)
RSU dividends			91	(91)
Cash dividends ($0.11 in 2012, $0.10 in 2011 per share)	(14,116)			(14,116)			(14,116)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2011	2,081,233	1,628	227,071	2,449,463	103,513	(739,445)	2,042,230	39,003
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	1,884,151	1,628	229,687	2,535,709	(190,970)	(727,977)	1,848,077	36,074
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	136,269			134,049			134,049	2,220
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(13,606)				(12,742)		(12,742)	(864)
Exercise of stock options	20,066		(7,158)			27,224	20,066
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	5,163		5,163				5,163
Share based compensation expense	11,029		11,029				11,029
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	3,642		370			3,272	3,642
Treasury shares purchased	(38,840)					(38,840)	(38,840)
RSU distributions	(3,276)		(8,344)			5,068	(3,276)
RSU dividends			115	(115)
Cash dividends ($0.11 in 2012, $0.10 in 2011 per share)	(15,599)			(15,599)			(15,599)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 1,988,999	$ 1,628	$ 230,862	$ 2,654,044	$ (203,712)	$ (731,253)	$ 1,951,569	$ 37,430