SEGMENT INFORMATION Intersegment Net Sales (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Eliminations	$ (148,682)		$ (152,821)		$ (294,085)		$ (294,883)
Total	0		0		0		0
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	54,907		56,852		106,739		109,321
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	937		1,054		1,766		2,233
Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	213		401		1,504		795
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	32,387		38,186		66,411		72,225
All Other
Segment Reporting, Revenue Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Intersegment net sales	$ 60,238	[1]	$ 56,328	[1]	$ 117,665	[1]	$ 110,309	[1]

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