SEGMENT INFORMATION Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 4,874,683		$ 4,972,297
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	973,168		1,007,307
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	299,275		294,348
Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	170,824		192,684
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	3,157,931		3,195,382
All Other
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 273,485	[1]	$ 282,576	[1]

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