Intersegment Net Sales (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Eliminations	$ (612,454)		$ (600,671)		$ (547,501)
Total	0		0		0
Dental Consumable and Laboratory Businesses Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	220,229		220,671		223,504
OrthodonticsCanadaMexicoJapan Segment [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	4,000		4,065		4,105
Select Distribution Businesses Segments
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	12,231		16,036		13,515
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim Segments
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	154,127		148,241		126,597
All Other
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	$ 221,867	[1]	$ 211,658	[1]	$ 179,780	[1]

[1] Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters and one distribution warehouse not managed by named segments.