RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER COSTS Provisions and Adjustments and Amounts Applied for All Plans by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	$ 3,749
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	14,475
Amounts applied	(6,933)
Ending Balance	10,511
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(780)
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	675
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	9,132
Amounts applied	(1,986)
Ending Balance	7,228
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(593)
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	165
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	361
Amounts applied	(400)
Ending Balance	122
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	4
Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	329
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	222
Amounts applied	(262)
Ending Balance	289
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	0
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	2,580
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	4,760
Amounts applied	(4,285)
Ending Balance	2,872
Implants Endodontics Healthcare Pacific Rim Segments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	183
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	1,228
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	12,907
Amounts applied	(4,936)
Ending Balance	8,433
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(766)
Restructuring Fiscal 2012 Plan [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	687
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	11,412
Amounts applied	(4,137)
Ending Balance	7,196
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(766)
Restructuring Fiscal 2013 Plans [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	541
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0
Amounts applied	(244)
Ending Balance	297
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	0
Restructuring Fiscal 2011 And Prior Plans [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	0
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,495
Amounts applied	(555)
Ending Balance	940
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	$ 0