SEGMENT INFORMATION Net Sales, Excluding Precious Metal Content (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	$ 665,625		$ 527,005
Precious metal content of sales	50,788		43,498
Net Sales, including precious metal content	716,413		570,503
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	207,484		201,108
Net Sales, including precious metal content	246,931		231,120
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	65,841		80,475
Net Sales, including precious metal content	72,902		88,446
Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	66,628		67,449
Net Sales, including precious metal content	68,226		69,575
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	326,986		179,017
Net Sales, including precious metal content	329,668		182,406
All Other
Statement [Line Items]
Net Sales, excluding precious metal content	(1,314)	[1]	(1,044)	[1]
Net Sales, including precious metal content	$ (1,314)	[1]	$ (1,044)	[1]

[1] (a) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters