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 Loss	Treasury Stock	Total DENTSPLY International Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 2,577,974	$ 1,628	$ 255,272	$ 3,095,721	$ (69,062)	$ (748,506)	$ 2,535,053	$ 42,921
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	72,920			72,878			72,878	42
Other comprehensive loss	(1,001)				(1,073)		(1,073)	72
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(87,283)		(40,283)		(5,530)		(45,813)	(41,470)
Exercise of stock options	4,149		(533)			4,682	4,149
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	69		69				69
Share based compensation expense	5,786		5,786				5,786
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	5,953		1,535			4,418	5,953
Treasury shares purchased	(40,395)					(40,395)	(40,395)
RSU distributions	(4,180)		(10,461)			6,281	(4,180)
RSU dividends			82	(82)
Cash dividends ($0.07250 per share)	(9,394)			(9,394)			(9,394)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2014	2,524,598	1,628	211,467	3,159,123	(75,665)	(773,520)	2,523,033	1,565
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	2,322,198	1,628	221,669	3,380,748	(441,136)	(841,630)	2,321,279	919
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	63,954			63,961			63,961	(7)
Other comprehensive loss	(131,884)				(132,431)		(132,431)	547
Exercise of stock options	14,065		(3,724)			17,789	14,065
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	381		381				381
Share based compensation expense	4,895		4,895				4,895
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	4,727		1,077			3,650	4,727
Treasury shares purchased	(88,651)					(88,651)	(88,651)
RSU distributions	(5,293)		(13,269)			7,976	(5,293)
RSU dividends			85	(85)
Cash dividends ($0.07250 per share)	(10,140)			(10,140)			(10,140)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 2,174,252	$ 1,628	$ 211,114	$ 3,434,484	$ (573,567)	$ (900,866)	$ 2,172,793	$ 1,459