CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, 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, 2009	$ 1,906,958	$ 1,628	$ 195,495	$ 2,083,459	$ 83,542	$ (532,019)	$ 1,832,105	$ 74,853
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.200
Comprehensive Income:
Net income	267,335			265,708			265,708	1,627
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(63,978)				(59,386)		(59,386)	(4,592)
Exercise of stock options	30,189		(10,107)			40,296	30,189
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	4,663		4,663				4,663
Share based compensation expense	18,803		18,803				18,803
Funding of Employee Stock Option Plan	1,340		208			1,132	1,340
Treasury shares purchased	(223,993)					(223,993)	(223,993)
Dividends from noncontrolling interests	(1,362)							(1,362)
RSU distributions	(1,379)		(4,313)			2,934	(1,379)
RSU dividends			153	(153)
Cash dividends ($0.220 in 2012,$0.205 in 2011 and $0.200 in 2010 per share)	(28,664)			(28,664)			(28,664)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	1,909,912	1,628	204,902	2,320,350	24,156	(711,650)	1,839,386	70,526
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.205
Comprehensive Income:
Net income	247,446			244,520			244,520	2,926
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(213,460)				(213,264)		(213,264)	(196)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(16,088)		22,782		(1,862)		20,920	(37,008)
Exercise of stock options	42,275		(14,677)			56,952	42,275
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	1,039		1,039				1,039
Share based compensation expense	20,947		20,947				20,947
Funding of Employee Stock Option Plan	2,974		379			2,595	2,974
Treasury shares purchased	(79,500)					(79,500)	(79,500)
Dividends from noncontrolling interests	(174)							(174)
RSU distributions	(2,246)		(5,872)			3,626	(2,246)
RSU dividends	0		187	(187)		0	0
Cash dividends ($0.220 in 2012,$0.205 in 2011 and $0.200 in 2010 per share)	(28,974)			(28,974)			(28,974)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	1,884,151	1,628	229,687	2,535,709	(190,970)	(727,977)	1,848,077	36,074
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.220
Comprehensive Income:
Net income	318,489			314,213			314,213	4,276
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	47,165				46,770		46,770	395
Exercise of stock options	34,183		(10,482)			44,665	34,183
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	13,009		13,009				13,009
Share based compensation expense	22,187		22,187				22,187
Funding of Employee Stock Option Plan	3,641		370			3,271	3,641
Treasury shares purchased	(38,837)					(38,837)	(38,837)
RSU distributions	(3,314)		(8,453)			5,139	(3,314)
RSU dividends	0		230	(230)		0	0
Cash dividends ($0.220 in 2012,$0.205 in 2011 and $0.200 in 2010 per share)	(31,231)			(31,231)			(31,231)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	$ 2,249,443	$ 1,628	$ 246,548	$ 2,818,461	$ (144,200)	$ (713,739)	$ 2,208,698	$ 40,745