SEGMENT INFORMATION Segment Operating Income (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, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	$ 122,866		$ 108,907		$ 216,724		$ 196,066
Restructuring and other costs	2,169		2,528		2,834		3,765
Interest expense	11,507		14,323		26,728		30,105
Interest income	(2,243)		(1,984)		(4,418)		(3,862)
Other expense (income), net	4,223		982		7,141		1,045
Income before income taxes	109,379		95,586		187,273		168,778
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	125,035		111,435		219,558		199,831
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	65,589		65,251		127,339		128,596
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	5,028		3,228		6,891		2,961
Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	(671)		(1,020)		(2,296)		(2,461)
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	78,503		77,095		142,354		142,478
All Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	$ (23,414)	[1]	$ (33,119)	[1]	$ (54,730)	[1]	$ (71,743)	[1]

[1] (d) Includes the results of Corporate headquarters, inter-segment eliminations and one distribution warehouse not managed by named segments.