SEGMENT INFORMATION Net Sales, Excluding Precious Metal Content (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	$ 647,121		$ 563,751		$ 2,011,226		$ 1,654,746
Precious metal content of sales	48,613		56,008		163,915		144,959
Net Sales, including precious metal content	695,734		619,759		2,175,141		1,799,705
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	199,786		203,307		614,133		618,596
Net Sales, including precious metal content	236,473		245,682		742,190		722,864
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	73,305		62,665		216,183		220,573
Net Sales, including precious metal content	81,390		71,377		240,609		245,550
Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	66,644		68,648		207,930		213,627
Net Sales, including precious metal content	68,397		70,770		212,585		220,276
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	307,853		229,812		977,617		605,312
Net Sales, including precious metal content	309,941		232,611		984,393		614,376
All Other
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	(467)	[1]	(681)	[1]	(4,637)	[1]	(3,362)	[1]
Net Sales, including precious metal content	$ (467)	[1]	$ (681)	[1]	$ (4,636)	[1]	$ (3,361)	[1]

[1] (a) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters