CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Total DENTSPLY International Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,884,151	$ 1,628	$ 229,687	$ 2,535,709	$ (190,970)	$ (727,977)	$ 1,848,077	$ 36,074
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	190,561			187,413			187,413	3,148
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	94,765				95,191		95,191	(426)
Exercise of stock options	24,830		(8,449)			33,279	24,830
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	11,201		11,201				11,201
Share based compensation expense	17,248		17,248				17,248
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	3,642		370			3,272	3,642
Treasury shares purchased	(38,839)					(38,839)	(38,839)
RSU distributions	(3,289)		(8,386)			5,097	(3,289)
RSU dividends			(173)	(173)
Cash dividends ($0.1875 in 2013, $0.1650 in 2012 per share)	(23,403)			(23,403)			(23,403)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	2,160,867	1,628	241,844	2,699,546	(95,779)	(725,168)	2,122,071	38,796
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	2,249,443	1,628	246,548	2,818,461	(144,200)	(713,739)	2,208,698	40,745
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	242,129						238,763
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	25,596				24,096		24,096	1,500
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(8,960)		(3,926)				(3,926)	(5,034)
Exercise of stock options	48,350		(5,569)			53,919	48,350
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	2,262		2,262				2,262
Share based compensation expense	18,027		18,027				18,027
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	4,657		959			3,698	4,657
Treasury shares purchased	(72,381)					(72,381)	(72,381)
RSU distributions	(3,363)		(8,378)			5,015	(3,363)
RSU dividends			(230)	(230)
Cash dividends ($0.1875 in 2013, $0.1650 in 2012 per share)	(26,742)			(26,742)			(26,742)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 2,479,018	$ 1,628	$ 250,153	$ 3,030,252	$ (120,104)	$ (723,488)	$ 2,438,441	$ 40,577