SEGMENT INFORMATION Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 5,015,061		$ 4,755,398
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	1,064,801		1,180,001
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	271,614		328,376
Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	203,290		159,210
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	3,232,374		2,890,880
All Other
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 242,982	[1]	$ 196,931	[1]

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