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, 2010	$ 1,909,912	$ 1,628	$ 204,902	$ 2,320,350	$ 24,156	$ (711,650)	$ 1,839,386	$ 70,526
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	69,463			69,084			69,084	379
Other comprehensive income	67,373				64,109		64,109	3,264
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(15,545)		21,463				21,463	(37,008)
Exercise of stock options	22,172		(6,450)			28,622	22,172
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	4,371		4,371				4,371
Share based compensation expense	4,668		4,668				4,668
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	2,974		379			2,595	2,974
Treasury shares purchased	(73,679)					(73,679)	(73,679)
RSU distributions	(2,157)		(5,630)			3,473	(2,157)
RSU dividends			45	(45)
Cash dividends ($0.055 in 2012, $0.05 in 2011 per share)	(7,053)			(7,053)			(7,053)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2011	1,982,499	1,628	223,748	2,382,336	88,265	(750,639)	1,945,338	37,161
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	54,228			53,284			53,284	944
Other comprehensive income	124,279				122,939		122,939	1,340
Exercise of stock options	14,482		(5,227)			19,709	14,482
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	3,879		3,879				3,879
Share based compensation expense	4,222		4,222				4,222
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	3,642		370			3,272	3,642
Treasury shares purchased	(30,869)					(30,869)	(30,869)
RSU distributions	(3,237)		(8,147)			4,910	(3,237)
RSU dividends			57	(57)
Cash dividends ($0.055 in 2012, $0.05 in 2011 per share)	(7,802)			(7,802)			(7,802)
Ending Balance at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 2,046,975	$ 1,628	$ 224,841	$ 2,581,134	$ (68,031)	$ (730,955)	$ 2,008,617	$ 38,358