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Document and Entity Information - shares	9 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Sep. 30, 2010	Oct. 25, 2010
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2010
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2010
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Entity Registrant Name	DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000818479
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		142,099,209

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 541,815	$ 531,203	$ 1,652,845	$ 1,590,984
Cost of products sold	269,001	259,473	810,399	767,854
Gross profit	272,814	271,730	842,446	823,130
Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A")	182,057	177,579	552,474	539,383
Restructuring and other costs	338	1,210	5,261	5,905
Operating income	90,419	92,941	284,711	277,842
Other income and expenses:
Interest expense	5,999	5,456	18,406	16,877
Interest income	(1,268)	(858)	(2,883)	(4,326)
Other expense (income), net	585	491	2,252	1,359
Income before income taxes	85,103	87,852	266,936	263,932
Provision for income taxes	21,288	19,999	67,585	65,570
Net income	63,815	67,853	199,351	198,362
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests	162	370	1,470	(1,062)
Net income attributable to DENTSPLY International	$ 63,653	$ 67,483	$ 197,881	$ 199,424
Earnings per common share:
Basic	$ 0.45	$ 0.45	$ 1.37	$ 1.34
Diluted	0.44	0.45	1.35	1.33
Cash dividends declared per common share	$ 0.05	$ 0.05	$ 0.15	$ 0.15
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	142,501	148,547	144,670	148,546
Diluted	144,063	150,638	146,679	150,077

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 534,243	$ 450,348
Accounts and notes receivables-trade, net	366,789	348,684
Inventories, net	318,071	291,640
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	112,454	127,124
Total Current Assets	1,331,557	1,217,796
Property, plant and equipment, net	423,802	439,619
Identifiable intangible assets, net	79,701	89,086
Goodwill, net	1,304,938	1,312,596
Other noncurrent assets, net	55,158	28,835
Total Assets	3,195,156	3,087,932
Liabilities and Equity
Accounts payable	100,663	100,847
Accrued liabilities	224,624	249,169
Income taxes payable	19,335	12,366
Notes payable and current portion of long-term debt	7,290	82,174
Total Current Liabilities	351,912	444,556
Long-term debt	592,376	387,151
Deferred income taxes	74,238	72,524
Other noncurrent liabilities	300,074	276,743
Total Liabilities	$ 1,318,600	$ 1,180,974
Commitments and contingencies
Equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value; .25 million shares authorized; no shares issued
Common stock, $.01 par value; 200.0 million shares authorized; 162.8 million shares issued at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009	1,628	1,628
Capital in excess of par value	202,482	195,495
Retained earnings	2,258,531	2,083,459
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	41,820	83,542
Treasury stock, at cost, 20.7 million shares at September 30, 2010 and 15.8 million shares at December 31, 2009	(700,980)	(532,019)
Total DENTSPLY International Equity	1,803,481	1,832,105
Noncontrolling interests	73,075	74,853
Total Equity	1,876,556	1,906,958
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 3,195,156	$ 3,087,932

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (PARENTHETICAL) - $ / shares shares in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Equity:
Preferred stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized	250	250
Preferred stock, shares issued	0	0
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	200,000	200,000
Common stock, shares issued	162,800	162,800
Treasury stock, shares	20,700	15,800

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 199,351	$ 198,362
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation	43,022	40,118
Amortization	7,097	9,227
Deferred income taxes	2,672	9,655
Share-based compensation expense	14,769	14,778
Restructuring and other costs - noncash	363	328
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	(4,784)	(2,921)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Accounts and notes receivable-trade, net	(16,768)	(23,166)
Inventories, net	(20,799)	10,670
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(6,305)	248
Accounts payable	(2,390)	(9,699)
Accrued liabilities	13,710	1,621
Income taxes payable	10,395	(546)
Other, net	8,557	(3,311)
Net cash provided by operating activities	248,890	245,364
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(29,566)	(43,282)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired	(21,997)	(2,986)
Liquidation of short-term investments		219
Expenditures for identifiable intangible assets	(291)	(128)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment, net	509	2,143
Net cash used in investing activities	(51,345)	(44,034)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Net change in short-term borrowings	(10,367)	(1,482)
Cash paid for treasury stock	(208,535)	(21,253)
Cash dividends paid	(23,052)	(22,383)
Proceeds from long-term borrowings	363,700
Payments on long-term borrowings	(240,385)	(57,150)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	26,932	9,451
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	4,784	2,921
Net cash used in financing activities	(86,923)	(89,896)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(26,727)	17,943
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	83,895	129,377
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	450,348	203,991
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 534,243	$ 333,368

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Statement [Line Items]
Balance			$ 1,906,958	$ 1,659,413
Comprehensive Income:
Net income	$ 63,815	$ 67,853	199,351	198,362
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(44,947)	81,085
Net loss on derivative financial instruments			(322)	(21,422)
Unrecognized losses and prior service pension cost, net			299	431
Comprehensive Income	168,530	108,036	154,381	258,456
Exercise of stock options			26,932	9,451
Tax benefit from stock options exercised			4,784	2,921
Share based compensation expense			14,769	14,778
Funding of Employee Stock Option Plan			1,341	1,347
Adjustment from acquisitions				(388)
Treasury shares purchased			(208,535)	(21,253)
RSU distributions			(1,380)
Cash dividends ($0.15 per share)			(22,694)	(22,274)
Balance	1,876,556	1,902,451	1,876,556	1,902,451
Common Stock
Statement [Line Items]
Balance			1,628	1,628
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Balance	1,628	1,628	1,628	1,628
Capital in Excess of Par Value
Statement [Line Items]
Balance			195,495	187,154
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Exercise of stock options			(8,577)	(8,724)
Tax benefit from stock options exercised			4,784	2,921
Share based compensation expense			14,769	14,778
Funding of Employee Stock Option Plan			209	(61)
Adjustment from acquisitions				(388)
RSU distributions			(4,313)
RSU dividends			115	101
Balance	202,482	195,781	202,482	195,781
Retained Earnings
Statement [Line Items]
Balance			2,083,459	1,838,958
Comprehensive Income:
Net income			197,881	199,424
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
RSU dividends			(115)	(101)
Cash dividends ($0.15 per share)			(22,694)	(22,274)
Balance	2,258,531	2,016,007	2,258,531	2,016,007
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Statement [Line Items]
Balance			83,542	39,612
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(41,699)	76,518
Net loss on derivative financial instruments			(322)	(21,422)
Unrecognized losses and prior service pension cost, net			299	431
Balance	41,820	95,139	41,820	95,139
Treasury Stock
Statement [Line Items]
Balance			(532,019)	(479,630)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Exercise of stock options			35,509	18,175
Funding of Employee Stock Option Plan			1,132	1,408
Treasury shares purchased			(208,535)	(21,253)
RSU distributions			2,933
Balance	(700,980)	(481,300)	(700,980)	(481,300)
Total DENTSPLY International Equity
Statement [Line Items]
Balance			1,832,105	1,587,722
Comprehensive Income:
Net income			197,881	199,424
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(41,699)	76,518
Net loss on derivative financial instruments			(322)	(21,422)
Unrecognized losses and prior service pension cost, net			299	431
Comprehensive Income			156,159	254,951
Exercise of stock options			26,932	9,451
Tax benefit from stock options exercised			4,784	2,921
Share based compensation expense			14,769	14,778
Funding of Employee Stock Option Plan			1,341	1,347
Adjustment from acquisitions				(388)
Treasury shares purchased			(208,535)	(21,253)
RSU distributions			(1,380)
Cash dividends ($0.15 per share)			(22,694)	(22,274)
Balance	1,803,481	1,827,255	1,803,481	1,827,255
Noncontrolling Interests
Statement [Line Items]
Balance			74,853	71,691
Comprehensive Income:
Net income			1,470	(1,062)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments			(3,248)	4,567
Net loss on derivative financial instruments
Unrecognized losses and prior service pension cost, net
Comprehensive Income			(1,778)	3,505
Exercise of stock options
Tax benefit from stock options exercised
Share based compensation expense
Funding of Employee Stock Option Plan
Treasury shares purchased
RSU distributions
RSU dividends
Cash dividends ($0.15 per share)
Balance	$ 73,075	$ 75,196	$ 73,075	$ 75,196

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (PARENTHETICAL) - $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]
Cash dividends, value per share	$ 0.15	$ 0.15

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	9 Months Ended
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	Sep. 30, 2010
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES	NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES The accounting policies of the Company, as applied in the interim consolidated financial statements presented herein are substantially the same as presented in the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, except as may be indicated below: Accounts and Notes Receivable-Trade Accounts and notes receivables – trade, net are stated net of allowances for doubtful accounts and trade discounts, which were $11.5 million and $13.3 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The decrease in the allowance for doubtful accounts reflects positive collections experience in North America and Europe, reflecting improved global liquidity for our customers. Variable Interest Entities In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued accounting guidance for variable interest entities ("VIE"). The guidance includes: (1) the elimination of the exemption from consolidation for qualifying special purpose entities, (2) a new approach for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE, which requires that the primary beneficiary have both (i) the power to control the most significant activities of the VIE and (ii) either the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, and (3) the requirement to continually reassess who should consolidate a VIE. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2010, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's financial po sition and results of operations. The Company consolidates all VIE where the Company has determined that it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and shares in either the significant risks or rewards of the VIE. The Company continually reassesses VIE to determine if consolidation is appropriate. Revisions in Classification Certain revisions in classification have been made to prior years' data in order to conform to current year presentation.

STOCK COMPENSATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

STOCK COMPENSATION

NOTE 2 – STOCK COMPENSATION

The Company maintains the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan (the "Plan") under which it may grant non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units ("RSU") and stock appreciation rights, collectively referred to as "Awards." Awards are granted at exercise prices that are equal to the closing stock price on the date of grant. The Company authorized grants under the Plan of 13.0 million shares of common stock, plus any unexercised portion of cancelled or terminated stock options granted under the DENTSPLY International Inc. 2002 Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, subject to adjustment as follows: each January, if 7% of the total outstan ding common shares of the Company exceed 13.0 million, the excess becomes available for grant under the Plan. No more than 2.5 million shares may be awarded as restricted stock and RSU, and no key employee may be granted restricted stock and RSU in excess of approximately 0.2 million shares of common stock in any calendar year.

Stock options generally expire ten years after the date of grant under these plans and grants become exercisable, subject to a service condition, over a period of three years after the date of grant at the rate of one-third per year, except when they become immediately exercisable upon death, disability or qualified retirement. RSU vest 100% on the third anniversary of the date of grant and are subject to a service condition, which requires grantees to remain employed by the Company during the three year period following the date of grant. In addition to the service condition, certain key executives are subject to performance requirements. Similar to stock options, RSU become immediately exercisable upon death, disability or qualified retirement. It is the Company's practice to issue shares from treasury stock when options are exercised.

At the date of grant, the Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of the non-qualified stock options. The assumptions used to calculate the fair value of the awards granted are evaluated and revised, as necessary, to reflect market conditions and the Company's experience.

The following table represents total stock based compensation expense and the tax related benefit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in millions)	2010		2009		2010		2009

Stock option expense	$	2.4	$	3.1	$	8.2	$	9.0
RSU expense		1.8		1.6		5.6		4.8
Total stock based compensation expense	$	4.2	$	4.7	$	13.8	$	13.8

Total related tax benefit	$	1.2	$	1.4	$	2.7	$	4.0

The remaining unamortized compensation cost related to non-qualified stock options is $11.0 million, which will be expensed over the weighted average remaining vesting period of the options, or 1.3 years. The unamortized compensation cost related to RSU is $8.5 million, which will be expensed over the remaining restricted period of the RSU, or 1.4 years.

The following table reflects the non-qualified stock option transactions from December 31, 2009 through September 30, 2010:


	Outstanding							Exercisable
				Weighted						Weighted
				Average		Aggregate				Average		Aggregate
(in thousands,				Exercise		Intrinsic				Exercise		Intrinsic
except per share data)	Shares			Price		Value		Shares		Price		Value

December 31, 2009		12,038		$	28.34	$	94,148		8,682	$	26.78	$	80,839
Granted		145			34.65
Exercised		(1,183	)		22.76
Forfeited		(162	)		33.93

September 30, 2010		10,838		$	28.95	$	51,226		7,611	$	27.47	$	44,527

The weighted average remaining contractual term of all outstanding options is 6.0 years and the weighted average remaining contractual term of exercisable options is 4.7 years.

The following table summarizes the unvested restricted stock units and RSU dividend transactions from December 31, 2009 through September 30, 2010:


	Unvested Restricted Stock and Stock Dividend Units
				Weighted Average
				Grant Date
(in thousands, except per share data)	Shares			Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2009		662		$	31.94
Granted		252			32.92
Vested		(207	)		31.42
Forfeited		(25	)		32.87

Unvested at September 30, 2010		682		$	32.43

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Comprehensive Income Note [Abstract]

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

NOTE 3 – COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The changes to balances included in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"), net of tax, in the consolidated balance sheets for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009
Net income	$	63,815		$	67,853		$	199,351		$	198,362
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		170,086			69,933			(44,947	)		81,085
Net loss on derivative financial instruments		(63,994	)		(29,053	)		(322	)		(21,422	)
Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior year service pension cost		(1,377	)		(697	)		299			431
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		104,715			40,183			(44,970	)		60,094

Total comprehensive income		168,530			108,036			154,381			258,456

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests		7,379			3,692			(1,778	)		3,505

Comprehensive income attributable to DENTSPLY International	$	161,151		$	104,344		$	156,159		$	254,951

During the quarter ended September 30, 2010, foreign currency translation adjustments included currency translation gains of $175.9 million and losses of $5.8 million on the Company's loans designated as hedges of net investments. During the quarter ended September 30, 2009, foreign currency translation adjustments included currency translation gains of $77.6 million partially offset by losses of $7.7 million on the Company's loans designated as hedges of net investments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, foreign currency translation adjustments included currency translation losses of $36 .4 million and losses of $8.5 million on the Company's loans designated as hedges of net investments. During the nine months ended September 30, 2009, foreign currency translation adjustments included currency translation gains of $83.4 million offset by losses of $2.3 million on the Company's loans designated as hedges of net investments. These foreign currency translation adjustments were offset by net gains on derivative financial instruments, which are discussed in Note 10, Financial Instruments and Derivatives.

The balances included in AOCI, net of tax, in the consolidated balance sheets are as follows:


	September 30,			December 31,
(in thousands)	2010			2009

Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	178,417		$	220,116
Net loss on derivative financial instruments		(114,122	)		(113,800	)
Unrecognized losses and prior year service pension cost		(22,475	)		(22,774	)
	$	41,820		$	83,542

The cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments included translation gains of $297.8 million and $327.8 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, partially offset by losses of $119.4 million and $107.7 million, respectively, on loans designated as hedges of net investments. These foreign currency translation adjustments were offset by net losses on derivatives financial instruments, which are discussed in Note 10, Financial Instruments and Derivatives.

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Earnings Per Common Share Abstract

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

NOTE 4 - EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

The dilutive effect of outstanding options and restricted stock is reflected in diluted earnings per share by application of the treasury stock method. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:


Basic Earnings Per Common Share Computation	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2010		2009		2010		2009

Net income attributable to DENTSPLY International	$	63,653	$	67,483	$	197,881	$	199,424

Common shares outstanding		142,501		148,547		144,670		148,546

Earnings per common share - basic	$	0.45	$	0.45	$	1.37	$	1.34

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Computation
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net income attributable to DENTSPLY International	$	63,653	$	67,483	$	197,881	$	199,424

Common shares outstanding		142,501		148,547		144,670		148,546
Incremental shares from assumed exercise of dilutive options		1,562		2,091		2,009		1,531
Total shares		144,063		150,638		146,679		150,077

Earnings per common share - diluted	$	0.44	$	0.45	$	1.35	$	1.33

Options to purchase 4.3 million and 3.3 million shares of common stock that were outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share since the options' exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and, therefore, the effect would be antidilutive. There were 1.5 million and 4.5 million antidilutive shares of common stock outstanding during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, respectively.

BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS	9 Months Ended
BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS	Sep. 30, 2010
Business Acquisitions Abstract
BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS	NOTE 5 – BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS The acquisition related activity for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 of $22.0 million, net of cash acquired, was related to several acquisitions in 2010 and earn-out payments on prior acquisitions. The purchase agreements for two of the acquisitions provide for additional payments to be made based upon the operating performance of the respective businesses; however, the Company does not expect the additional payment to be material to the financial statements. The results of operations for these businesses have been included in the accompanying financial statements since the effective date of the respective transactions. The purchase prices have been allocated on the basis of preliminary estimates of the fair values of assets acquired and liabilities assumed.&n bsp; As of September 30, 2010, the Company has recorded a total of $14.3 million in goodwill related to the unallocated portions of the respective purchase prices, and most of this goodwill is associated with the Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics segment with the remaining portion being included in the Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental segment. As discussed in Note 1, Significant Accounting Policies, the Company adopted the accounting guidance for VIE. The adoption has not changed the Company's prior conclusion that all current VIE should be consolidated. Under the new accounting guidance for VIE, the Company believes it is the primary beneficiary for all the VIE since the Company directs the activities that most significantly impacts the economic performance of the VIE and has the obligation to absorb losses and the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The consolidation of the VIE net assets is immaterial to the Company's financial position with most of the net assets recorded in goodwill and identifiable intangible assets.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Segment Information Abstract

SEGMENT INFORMATION

NOTE 6 - SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company has numerous operating businesses covering a wide range of products and geographic regions, primarily serving the professional dental market. Professional dental products represented approximately 97% of sales for the periods ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.

The operating businesses are combined into operating groups, which have overlapping product offerings, geographical presence, customer bases, distribution channels, and regulatory oversight. These operating groups are considered the Company's reportable segments as the Company's chief operating decision-maker regularly reviews financial results at the operating group level and uses this information to manage the Company's operations. The accounting policies of the groups are consistent with those described in the Company's most recently filed Form10-K in the summary of significant accounting policies. The Company measures segment income for reporting purposes as operating income before restructuring and other costs, interest expense, interest income, other income and expenses and income tax es.

United States, Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses

This business group includes responsibility for the design, manufacturing, sales and distribution for certain small equipment and chairside consumable products in the United States, Germany and certain other European regions. It also has responsibility for the sales and distribution of certain Endodontic products in Germany.

France, United Kingdom, Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses

This business group includes responsibility for the sales and distribution for certain small equipment, chairside consumable products, certain laboratory products and certain Endodontic products in France, United Kingdom, Italy, the Commonwealth of Independent States ("CIS"), Middle East, Africa, Asia (excluding Japan), Japan and Australia, as well as the sale and distribution of implant products and bone substitute/grafting materials in France, Italy, Asia and Australia. This business group also includes the responsibility for sales and distribution for certain laboratory products, implants products and bone substitution/grafting materials for Austria. It also is responsible for sales and distribution for certain small equipment and chairside consumable products, certain laboratory product s, implant products and bone substation/grafting materials in certain other European countries. In addition this business group also includes the manufacturing and sale of Orthodontic products and certain laboratory products in Japan, and the manufacturing of certain laboratory and certain Endodontic products in Asia.

Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics

This business group includes responsibility for the design, manufacture, and/or sales and distribution of certain small equipment, chairside consumable products, certain laboratory products and Endodontic products in Brazil. It also has responsibility for the sales and distribution of most of the Company's dental products sold in Latin America and Canada. This business group also includes the responsibility for the design and manufacturing for Endodontic products in the United States, Switzerland and Germany and is responsible for the sales and distribution of the Company's Endodontic products in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Benelux, Scandinavia, Austria, Latin America and Eastern Europe, and for certain Endodontic products in Germany. This business group is al so responsible for the world-wide sales and distribution, excluding Japan, as well as some manufacturing of the Company's Orthodontic products. In addition, this business group is also responsible for sales and distribution in the United States for implant and bone substitute/grafting materials and the sales and distribution of implants in Brazil. This business group is also responsible for the manufacture and sale of certain products in the Company's non-dental business.

Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental

This business group includes the responsibility for the design, manufacture, sales and distribution for most laboratory products, excluding certain countries mentioned previously, and the design, manufacture, and/or sales and distribution of the Company's dental implant products and bone substitute/grafting materials, excluding sales and distribution of implants and bone substitute/grafting materials in the United States; France, Italy, Austria, and certain other Eastern European countries; and Australia. This business group is also responsible for most of the Company's non-dental business.

Significant interdependencies exist among the Company's operations in certain geographic areas. Inter-group sales are at prices intended to provide a reasonable profit to the manufacturing unit after recovery of all manufacturing costs and to provide a reasonable profit for purchasing locations after coverage of marketing and general and administrative costs.

Generally, the Company evaluates performance of the operating groups based on the groups' operating income, excluding restructuring and other costs, and net third party sales, excluding precious metal content.

The following tables set forth information about the Company's operating groups for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:

Third Party Net Sales


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	139,137		$	142,983		$	411,356		$	407,495
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		114,338			112,196			346,224			336,184
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		159,238			149,907			486,573			451,893
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		129,809			126,759			411,185			397,610
All Other (a)		(707	)		(642	)		(2,493	)		(2,198	)
Total	$	541,815		$	531,203		$	1,652,845		$	1,590,984

Third Party Net Sales, Excluding Precious Metal Content


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	139,137		$	142,983		$	411,356		$	407,495
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		106,499			104,008			320,606			311,098
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		158,682			149,219			484,723			449,815
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		90,735			98,250			296,309			304,784
All Other (a)		(707	)		(642	)		(2,493	)		(2,198	)
Total excluding precious metal content		494,346			493,818			1,510,501			1,470,994
Precious metal content		47,469			37,385			142,344			119,990
Total including precious metal content	$	541,815		$	531,203		$	1,652,845		$	1,590,984

Inter-segment Net Sales


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	30,940		$	27,759		$	88,003		$	74,488
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		3,396			2,590			12,052			9,037
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		31,187			24,424			85,864			77,241
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		25,355			27,823			82,950			82,972
All Other (b)		43,218			42,914			132,302			124,261
Eliminations		(134,096	)		(125,510	)		(401,171	)		(367,999	)
Total	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-

(a) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters.

(b) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters and one distribution warehouse not managed by named segments.

Segment Operating Income


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	53,164		$	49,034		$	147,679		$	125,780
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa,Pacific Rim Businesses		3,892			3,743			9,299			11,268
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		44,910			39,543			142,073			135,068
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		14,691			19,032			59,648			65,222
All Other (a)		(25,900	)		(17,201	)		(68,727	)		(53,591	)
Segment operating income		90,757			94,151			289,972			283,747

Reconciling Items:
Restructuring and other costs		(338	)		(1,210	)		(5,261	)		(5,905	)
Interest expense		(5,999	)		(5,456	)		(18,406	)		(16,877	)
Interest income		1,268			858			2,883			4,326
Other expense (income), net		(585	)		(491	)		(2,252	)		(1,359	)
Income before income taxes	$	85,103		$	87,852		$	266,936		$	263,932


Assets
	September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2010		2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	604,496	$	602,272
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		395,587		388,831
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		890,657		809,924
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		933,908		973,764
All Other (b)		370,508		313,141
Total	$	3,195,156	$	3,087,932

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

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

INVENTORIES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Inventory, Net [Abstract]

INVENTORIES

NOTE 7 - INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the cost of $8.3 million, or 2.6%, and $7.8 million, or 2.7%, respectively, of inventories was determined by the last-in, first-out ("LIFO") method. The cost of other inventories was determined by the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") or average cost methods. The Company establishes reserves for inventory in order to present the net realizable value. The inventory valuation reserves were $36.9 million and $31.9 million as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively.

If the FIFO method had been used to determine the cost of LIFO inventories, the amounts at which net inventories are stated would be higher than reported at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 by $4.3 million and $4.0 million, respectively.

Inventories, net of inventory valuation reserves, consist of the following:


	September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2010		2009

Finished goods	$	194,285	$	178,721
Work-in-process		54,976		53,056
Raw materials and supplies		68,810		59,863
	$	318,071	$	291,640

BENEFIT PLANS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]

BENEFIT PLANS

NOTE 8 - BENEFIT PLANS

The following sets forth the components of net periodic benefit cost of the Company's defined benefit plans and for the Company's other postretirement employee benefit plans for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively:


Defined Benefit Plans	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

Service cost	$	2,017		$	2,144		$	5,950		$	6,211
Interest cost		2,094			2,059			6,251			5,957
Expected return on plan assets		(1,179	)		(1,012	)		(3,447	)		(2,951	)
Amortization of transition obligation		32			61			91			177
Amortization of prior service cost		19			34			63			103
Amortization of net loss		247			423			722			1,241

Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,230		$	3,709		$	9,630		$	10,738


Other Postretirement Plans	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010		2009		2010		2009

Service cost	$	14	$	13	$	43	$	40
Interest cost		152		156		458		467
Amortization of net loss		69		50		206		151

Net periodic benefit cost	$	235	$	219	$	707	$	658

The following sets forth the information related to the funding of the Company's benefit plans for 2010:


			Other
	Pension		Postretirement
(in thousands)	Benefits		Benefits

Actual at September 30, 2010	$	5,677	$	68
Projected for the remainder of the year		3,049		1,039
Total for year	$	8,726	$	1,107

RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER COSTS

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Restructuring Costs [Abstract]

RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER COSTS

NOTE 9 – RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER COSTS

Other Costs

There were no other costs during the three months ended September 30, 2010, and $1.2 million of other costs recorded by the Company during the three months ended September 30, 2009. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, the Company recorded other costs of $4.1 million and $1.6 million, respectively. Other costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 are primarily related to several legal matters. These other costs are reflected in "Restructuring and other costs" in the consolidated statements of operations.

Restructuring Costs

During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the Company recorded restructuring costs of $0.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively. During the three months ended September 30, 2009 the Company had no restructuring costs and for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, the Company recorded restructuring costs of $4.3 million. These costs are recorded in "Restructuring and other costs" in the consolidated statements of operations and the associated liabilities are recorded in accrued liabilities in the consolidated balance sheets. These costs primarily consist of employee severance costs.

During 2010 and 2009, the Company initiated several restructuring plans primarily related to the integration, reorganization and closure or consolidation of certain production and selling facilities in order to better leverage the Company's resources by minimizing costs and obtaining operational efficiencies.

As of September 30, 2010, the Company's restructuring accruals were as follows:


	Severance
	2008 and
(in thousands)	Prior Plans			2009 Plans			2010 Plans			Total
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	5,301		$	3,240		$	-		$	8,541
Provisions and adjustments		(127	)		-			1,037			910
Amounts applied		(2,288	)		(1,655	)		(1,014	)		(4,957	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	2,886		$	1,585		$	23		$	4,494

	Lease/Contract Terminations
	2008 and
(in thousands)	Prior Plans			Total
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	1,093		$	1,093
Provisions and adjustments		-			-
Amounts applied		(65	)		(65	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	1,028		$	1,028

	Other Restructuring Costs
	2008 and
(in thousands)	Prior Plans			2009 Plans			2010 Plans			Total
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	112		$	16		$	-		$	128
Provisions and adjustments		45			172			82			299
Amounts applied		(67	)		(188	)		(82	)		(337	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	90		$	-		$	-		$	90

The following table provides the year-to-date changes in the restructuring accruals by segment:


	December 31,		Provisions and		Amounts			September 30,
(in thousands)	2009		Adjustments		Applied			2010

United States, Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	1,245	$	472	$	(529	)	$	1,188
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		84		212		(212	)		84
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		639		-		(639	)		-
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		7,794		525		(3,979	)		4,340
	$	9,762	$	1,209	$	(5,359	)	$	5,612

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Financial Instruments And Derivatives Abstract

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES

NOTE 10 – FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES

Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities

The Company's activities expose it to a variety of market risks, which primarily include the risks related to the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity prices. These financial exposures are monitored and managed by the Company as part of its overall risk management program. The objective of this risk management program is to reduce the volatility that these market risks may have on the Company's operating results and equity.

Certain of the Company's inventory purchases are denominated in foreign currencies, which expose the Company to market risk associated with foreign currency exchange rate movements. The Company's policy generally is to hedge major foreign currency transaction exposures through foreign exchange forward contracts. These contracts are entered into with major financial institutions thereby minimizing the risk of credit loss. In addition, the Company's investments in foreign subsidiaries are denominated in foreign currencies, which create exposures to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company uses debt and derivatives denominated in the applicable foreign currency as a means of hedging a portion of this risk.< /div>

With the Company's significant level of variable interest rate long-term debt and net investment hedges, changes in the interest rate environment can have a major impact on the Company's earnings, depending upon its interest rate exposure. As a result, the Company manages its interest rate exposure with the use of interest rate swaps, when appropriate, based upon market conditions.

The manufacturing of some of the Company's products requires the use of commodities, which are subject to market fluctuations. In order to limit the unanticipated impact on earnings from such market fluctuations, the Company selectively enters into commodity swaps for certain materials used in the production of its products. Additionally, the Company uses non-derivative methods, such as the precious metal consignment agreements to effectively hedge commodity risks.

Cash Flow Hedges

The Company uses interest rate swaps to convert a portion of its variable interest rate debt to fixed interest rate debt. As of September 30, 2010, the Company has two groups of significant variable interest rate to fixed interest rate swaps. One of the groups of swaps has notional amounts totaling 12.6 billion Japanese yen, and effectively converts the underlying variable interest rates to an average fixed interest rate of 1.6% for a term of ten years, ending in March 2012. Another swap has a notional amount of 65.0 million Swiss francs, and effectively converts the underlying variable interest rates to a fixed interest rate of 4.2% for a term of seven years, ending in March 2012. The Company enters into interest rate swap contracts infrequently as they are only used to manage interest rate risk on long-term debt instruments and not for speculative purposes.

The Company enters into forward exchange contracts to hedge the foreign currency exposure of its anticipated purchases of certain inventory. In addition, exchange contracts are used by certain of the Company's subsidiaries to hedge intercompany inventory purchases, which are denominated in non-local currencies. The forward contracts that are used in these programs typically mature in eighteen months or less. For these derivatives which qualify as hedges of future anticipated cash flows, the effective portion of changes in fair value is temporarily deferred in AOCI until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.

The Company selectively enters into commodity swaps to effectively fix certain variable raw material costs. At September 30, 2010, the Company had swaps in place to purchase 33 troy ounces of platinum bullion for use in the production of its impression material products. The average fixed rate of this agreement is $1,303 per troy ounce. In addition, the Company had swaps in place to purchase 17,208 troy ounces of silver bullion for use in the production of its amalgam products at an average fixed rate of $17 per troy ounce.

The following tables summarize the fair value of the Company's cash flow hedges at September 30, 2010.


	Notional Amounts Maturing in the Year								Fair Value Net Asset (Liability)
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	2010			2011			2012		September 30, 2010
(in thousands)

Forward sale, 11.7 million Australian dollars	$	4,951		$	5,528		$	786	$	(532	)
Forward purchase, 5.5 million British pounds		(3,250	)		(5,364	)		-		72
Forward sale, 23.7 million Canadian dollars		5,499			15,887			1,665		131
Forward sale, 5.1 million Danish kroner		935			-			-		9
Forward purchase, 0.9 million euros		(1,189	)		-			-		640
Forward sale, 9.7 million euros		-			13,154			-		897
Forward sale, 439.9 million Japanese yen		5,271			-			-		409
Forward purchase, 313.4 million Japanese yen		-			(3,756	)		-		401
Forward sale, 115.1 million Mexican pesos		9,135			-			-		97
Forward purchase, 1.0 million Norwegian kroner		(173	)		-			-		(2	)
Forward sale, 2.0 million Singapore dollars		1,534			-			-		55
Forward sale, 1.2 billion South Korean won		1,024			-			-		48
Forward purchase, 42.0 million Swiss francs		(42,805	)		-			-		301

Total foreign exchange forward contracts	$	(19,068	)	$	25,449		$	2,451	$	2,526


	Notional Amount										Fair Value Net Asset (Liability)
Interest Rate Swaps	2010		2011		2012		2013		2014 and Beyond		2010
(in thousands)

Euro	$	322	$	1,286	$	1,286	$	1,286	$	4,180	$	(817	)
Japanese yen		-		-		150,410		-		-		(2,400	)
Swiss francs		-		-		66,266		-		-		(3,521	)
Total interest rate swaps	$	322	$	1,286	$	217,962	$	1,286	$	4,180	$	(6,738	)


							Fair Value Net
	Notional Amount						Asset (Liability)
Commodity Contracts	2010			2011			2010
(in thousands)

Silver swap - U.S. dollar	$	(254	)	$	(127	)	$	94
Platinum swap - U.S. dollar		(55	)		-			12
Total commodity contracts	$	(309	)	$	(127	)	$	106

Hedges of Net Investments in Foreign Operations

The Company has numerous investments in foreign subsidiaries. The net assets of these subsidiaries are exposed to volatility in foreign currency exchange rates. Currently, the Company uses non-derivative financial instruments, including foreign currency denominated debt held at the parent company level and derivative financial instruments to hedge some of this exposure. Translation gains and losses related to the net assets of the foreign subsidiaries are offset by gains and losses in the non-derivative and derivative financial instruments designated as hedges of net investments.

During the first quarter of 2010, the Company entered into new cross currency basis swaps of Swiss francs 100.0 million and Swiss francs 55.5 million (collectively the "Swiss Swaps"). The Swiss Swaps mature on February 2013, and the Company pays three month Swiss franc LIBOR and receives three month U.S. dollar LIBOR. The new contracts were entered into to replace maturing contracts. The Swiss franc and euro cross currency basis swaps are designated as net investment hedges of the Swiss and euro denominated net assets. The interest rate differential is recognized in the earnings as interest income or interest expense as it is accrued, the foreign currency revaluation is recorded in AOCI, net of tax e ffects.

The fair value of all the cross currency basis swap agreements is the estimated amount the Company would (pay) or receive at the reporting date, taking into account the effective interest rates and foreign exchange rates. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, the estimated net fair values of the swap agreements were negative $164.6 million and negative $176.6 million, respectively, which were recorded as other noncurrent liabilities and other noncurrent assets and in AOCI, net of tax effects.

At September 30, 2010, the Company had Swiss franc-denominated and Japanese yen-denominated debt and cross currency basis swaps denominated in euro and Swiss franc to hedge the currency exposure related to a designated portion of the net assets of its European, Swiss and Japanese subsidiaries. The accumulated translation impact on investments in foreign subsidiaries, primarily denominated in euro, Swiss francs and Japanese yen, net of these net investment hedges, was a gain of $66.1 million as of September 30, 2010 and a gain of $111.1 million as of December 31, 2009, which are included in AOCI, net of tax effects.

The following tables summarize the fair value of the Company's cross currency basis swaps that are designated as hedges of net investments in foreign operations at September 30, 2010.


	Notional Amount								Fair Value Net Asset (Liability)
Cross Currency Basis Swaps	2010		2011		2012		2013		2010
(in thousands)

Swiss franc 592.5 million @ 1.17 pay CHF three month LIBOR rec. USD three month LIBOR	$	-	$	81,966	$	57,702	$	464,369	$	(97,057	)
Euros 358.0 million @ $1.17 pay EUR three month LIBOR rec. USD three month LIBOR		147,069		-		-		340,438		(67,578	)
Total cross currency basis swaps	$	147,069	$	81,966	$	57,702	$	804,807	$	(164,635	)

As of September 30, 2010, deferred net losses on derivative instruments of $1.5 million, which were recorded in AOCI, are expected to be reclassified to current earnings during the next twelve months. This reclassification is primarily due to the sale of inventory that includes previously hedged purchases and interest rate swaps. The maximum term over which the Company is hedging exposures to variability of cash flows (for all forecasted transactions, excluding interest payments on variable interest rate debt) is eighteen months. Overall, the derivatives designated as cash flow hedges are highly effective. Any cash flows associated with these instruments are included in cash from operations in acco rdance with the Company's policy of classifying the cash flows from these instruments in the same category as the cash flows from the items being hedged.

The following tables summarize the fair value and consolidated balance sheet location of the Company's derivatives at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:


	September 30, 2010
	Prepaid
(in thousands)	Expenses		Other				Other
	and Other		Noncurrent		Accrued		Noncurrent
Designated as Hedges	Current Assets		Assets, Net		Liabilities		Liabilities

Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	1,824	$	248	$	199	$	51
Commodity contracts		106		-		-		-
Interest rate swaps		-		172		5,419		674
Cross currency basis swaps		-		-		20,348		144,287
Total	$	1,930	$	420	$	25,966	$	145,012

Not Designated as Hedges

Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	1,138	$	-	$	434	$	-
Interest rate swaps		-		-		123		694
Total	$	1,138	$	-	$	557	$	694


	December 31, 2009
	Prepaid
(in thousands)	Expenses		Other				Other
	and Other		Noncurrent		Accrued		Noncurrent
Designated as Hedges	Current Assets		Assets, Net		Liabilities		Liabilities

Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	598	$	5	$	1,010	$	16
Commodity contracts		293		-		-		-
Interest rate swaps		-		-		6,130		2,775
Cross currency basis swaps		-		-		52,411		124,210
Total	$	891	$	5	$	59,551	$	127,001

Not Designated as Hedges

Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	556	$	-	$	409	$	-
Interest rate swaps		-		-		-		882
Total	$	556	$	-	$	409	$	882

The following table summarizes the consolidated statement of operations impact of the Company's cash flow hedges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010


Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging					Effective Portion
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Reclassified from
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	AOCI into Income
Interest rate contracts	$	(636	)	Interest expense	$	(1,175	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(597	)	Cost of products sold		189
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(336	)	SG&A expenses		312
Commodity contracts		61		Cost of products sold		140
Total	$	(1,508	)		$	(534	)


Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging		Ineffective portion
	Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net	$	(43	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(120	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		7
Commodity contracts	Interest expense		(5	)
Total		$	(161	)


Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging					Effective Portion
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Reclassified from
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	AOCI into Income
Interest rate contracts	$	(2,051	)	Interest expense	$	(2,252	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(243	)	Cost of products sold		(302	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(449	)	SG&A expenses		240
Commodity contracts		343		Cost of products sold		(190	)
Total	$	(2,400	)		$	(2,504	)


Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging		Ineffective portion
	Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net	$	(54	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(54	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		13
Commodity contracts	Interest expense		(9	)
Total		$	(104	)


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging					Effective Portion
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Reclassified from
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	AOCI into Income
Interest rate contracts	$	(1,515	)	Interest expense	$	(4,414	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		2,306		Cost of products sold		214
Foreign exchange forward contracts		361		SG&A expenses		530
Commodity contracts		232		Cost of products sold		580
Total	$	1,384			$	(3,090	)


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging		Ineffective portion
	Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net	$	149
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(405	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		4
Commodity contracts	Interest expense		(11	)
Total		$	(263	)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009


Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging					Effective Portion
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Reclassified from
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	AOCI into Income
Interest rate contracts	$	(3,425	)	Interest expense	$	(5,594	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(501	)	Cost of products sold		1,106
Foreign exchange forward contracts		431		SG&A expenses		434
Commodity contracts		1,465		Cost of products sold		(1,095	)
Total	$	(2,030	)		$	(5,149	)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009


Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging		Ineffective portion
	Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net	$	(155	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(235	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(35	)
Commodity contracts	Interest expense		(38	)
Total		$	(463	)

The following tables summarize the consolidated statement of operations impact of the Company's hedges of net investment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2010


Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging					Gain (Loss)
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	(54,204	)	Interest income	$	423
				Interest expense		(6	)
Cross currency interest rate swaps		(48,688	)	Interest expense		(542	)
Total	$	(102,892	)		$	(125	)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging					Gain (Loss)
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	(25,826	)	Interest income	$	190
Cross currency interest rate swaps		(21,525	)	Interest expense		(896	)
Total	$	(47,351	)		$	(706	)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010


Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging					Gain (Loss)
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	(31,186	)	Interest income	$	643
				Interest expense		(85	)
Cross currency interest rate swaps		25,715		Interest expense		(1,663	)
Total	$	(5,471	)		$	(1,105	)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging					Gain (Loss)
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	(12,911	)	Interest income	$	1,402
Cross currency interest rate swaps		(25,054	)	Interest expense		(3,340	)
Total	$	(37,965	)		$	(1,938	)

The following tables summarize the consolidated statement of operations impact of the Company's derivatives not designated as hedges for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:


Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging
	Classification	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	September 30, 2010			September 30, 2010
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Other expense, net	$	12,173		$	1,296
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense		(41	)		(220	)
Total		$	12,132		$	1,076

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging
	Classification	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	September 30, 2009			September 30, 2009
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Other expense, net	$	2,485		$	(13,428	)
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net		-			(2	)
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense		(124	)		(390	)
Total		$	2,361		$	(13,820	)

Amounts recorded in AOCI, net of tax, related to cash flow hedging instruments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(in thousands, net of tax)	2010			2009			2010			2009

Beginning balance	$	(944	)	$	(6,005	)	$	(4,799	)	$	(7,874	)

Changes in fair value of derivatives		(1,051	)		(1,506	)		1,221			(1,152	)
Reclassifications to earnings from equity		233			1,526			1,816			3,041
Total activity		(818	)		20			3,037			1,889

Ending balance	$	(1,762	)	$	(5,985	)	$	(1,762	)	$	(5,985	)

Amounts recorded in AOCI, net of tax, related to hedges of net investments in foreign operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(in thousands, net of tax)	2010			2009			2010			2009

Beginning balance	$	(33,636	)	$	93,272		$	111,115		$	77,585

Foreign currency translation adjustment		171,847			74,264			(29,999	)		78,776
Changes in fair value of:
Foreign currency debt		(8,978	)		(7,673	)		(11,700	)		(2,260	)
Derivative hedge instruments		(63,176	)		(29,073	)		(3,359	)		(23,311	)
Total activity		99,693			37,518			(45,058	)		53,205

Ending balance	$	66,057		$	130,790		$	66,057		$	130,790

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Fair Value Measurment Abstract

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

NOTE 11 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

The Company records financial instruments at fair value with unrealized gains and losses related to certain financial instruments reflected in AOCI on the consolidated balance sheets. In addition, the Company recognizes certain liabilities at fair value. The Company primarily applies the market approach for recurring fair value measurements and endeavors to utilize the best available information. Accordingly, the Company utilizes valuation techniques that maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

The degree of judgment utilized in measuring the fair value of financial instruments generally correlates to the level of pricing observability. Pricing observability is impacted by a number of factors, including the type of financial instrument. Financial instruments with readily available active quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices generally will have a higher degree of pricing observability and a lesser degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value. Conversely, financial instruments rarely traded or not quoted will generally have less, or no, pricing observability and a higher degree of judgment utilized in measuring fair value.

The following tables set forth by level within the fair value hierarchy the Company's financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, which are classified as "Cash and cash equivalents," "Other noncurrent assets, net," "Accrued liabilities," and "Other noncurrent liabilities" on the consolidated balance sheets. Financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value as of the balance sheet date are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.


	September 30, 2010
(in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Assets
Money market funds	$	424,445	$	424,445	$	-	$	-
Commodity contracts		106		-		106		-
Interest rate swaps		172				172
Foreign exchange forward contracts		3,210		-		3,210		-
Total assets	$	427,933	$	424,445	$	3,488	$	-

Liabilities
Interest rate swaps	$	6,910	$	-	$	6,910	$	-
Cross currency basis swaps		164,635		-		164,635		-
Foreign exchange forward contracts		684		-		684		-
Total liabilities	$	172,229	$	-	$	172,229	$	-


	December 31, 2009
(in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Assets
Money market funds	$	364,765	$	364,765	$	-	$	-
Commodity contracts		293		-		293		-
Foreign exchange forward contracts		1,159		-		1,159		-
Total assets	$	366,217	$	364,765	$	1,452	$	-

Liabilities
Interest rate swaps	$	9,787	$	-	$	9,787	$	-
Cross currency basis swaps		176,621		-		176,621		-
Foreign exchange forward contracts		1,435		-		1,435		-
Total liabilities	$	187,843	$	-	$	187,843	$	-

Derivative valuations are based on observable inputs to the valuation model including interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, future commodities prices and credit risks.

The commodity contracts, interest rate swaps and foreign exchange forward contracts are considered cash flow hedges and cross currency interest rate swaps are considered hedges of net investments in foreign operations as discussed in Note 10, Financial Instruments and Derivatives.

UNCERTAINTIES IN INCOME TAXES	9 Months Ended
UNCERTAINTIES IN INCOME TAXES	Sep. 30, 2010
Income Tax Uncertainties [Abstract]
UNCERTAINTIES IN INCOME TAXES	NOTE 12 – UNCERTAINTIES IN INCOME TAXES The Company recognizes in the consolidated financial statements, the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. It is reasonably possible that certain amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly increase or decrease within twelve months of the reporting date of the Company's consolidated financial statements. Final settlement and resolution of outstanding tax matters in various jurisdictions during the next twelve months could include unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $1.0 million. In addition, expiration of statutes of limitation in various jurisdictions during the next twelve months could include unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $1.2 million.

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	9 Months Ended
FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	Sep. 30, 2010
Financing Arrangements Abstract
FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS	NOTE 13 - FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS On February 19, 2010, the Company received the proceeds of a $250.0 million Private Placement Note at a fixed rate of 4.1% for an average term of five years and a final maturity of six years. On March 1, 2010 the Company entered into a term loan facility with PNC Bank for Swiss francs 65.0 million at a variable rate based upon three month Swiss franc LIBOR, which matures in March 2012. The Company's notes payable and current portion of long-term debt, as classified on the consolidated balance sheets, amounted to $7.3 million and $82.2 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. On May 7, 2010 the Company entered into a $200.0 million multi-currency revolving credit agreement with eight lenders for a period of three years maturing May 7, 2013. The multi-currency revolving credit agreement replaced the $500.0 million multi-currency revolving credit agreement which matured May 9, 2010. As a consequence of the smaller multi-currency revolving credit agreement, the Company also reduced its U.S. dollar Commercial Paper facility to $200.0 million in May 2010. The Company estimates the fair value of its total debt as compared to its carrying value as $612.3 million and $599.7 million, respectively, as of September 30, 2010. As of December 31, 2009, the fair value approximated the carrying value, which was $469.3 million. The interest rate on the Company's $250.0 million Private Placement Note is a fixed rate of 4.1%, and the fair value is based on the interest rates as of September 30, 2010. The interest rates on term loan debt and commercial paper are variable, and therefore the fair value of these instruments approximates their carrying values.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	Sep. 30, 2010
Commitments And Contingencies Abstract
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	NOTE 14 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES On June 18, 2004, Marvin Weinstat, DDS and Richard Nathan, DDS filed a class action suit in San Francisco County, California alleging that the Company misrepresented that its Cavitron® ultrasonic scalers are suitable for use in oral surgical procedures. The Complaint seeks a recall of the product and refund of its purchase price to dentists who have purchased it for use in oral surgery. The Court certified the case as a class action in June 2006 with respect to the breach of warranty and unfair business practices claims. The class is defined as California dental professionals who purchased and used one or more Cavitron® ultrasonic scalers for the performance of oral surgical procedures. The Company filed a motion for decertification of the class and this motion was granted. Plaintiffs appealed the decertification of the class to the California Court of Appeals and the Court of Appeals reversed the decertification decision of the trial Court. This case has been remanded to and is pending in the San Francisco County Court. On December 12, 2006, a Complaint was filed by Carole Hildebrand, DDS and Robert Jaffin, DDS in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (the Plaintiffs subsequently added Dr. Mitchell Goldman as a named class representative). The case was filed by the same law firm that filed the Weinstat case in California. The Complaint asserts putative class action claims on behalf of dentists located in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The Complaint seeks damages and asserts that the Company's Cavitron® ultrasonic scaler was negligently designed and sold in breach of contract and warranty arising from misrepresentations about the potential uses of the product because it cannot assure the delivery of potable or sterile water. Plaintiffs have file d their Motion for class certification to which the Company has filed its response. The Company also filed other motions, including a Motion to dismiss the claims of Drs. Hildebrand and Jaffin for lack of standing. The Court granted this Motion for lack of standing of the individuals and did not allow the plaintiffs to amend the complaint to substitute their corporate practices, leaving Dr. Goldman as a putative class representative in Pennsylvania, raising a question of jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court. The plaintiffs have now filed another complaint in which they named the corporate practices of Drs. Hildebrand and Jaffin as class representatives. The Company has moved to dismiss this complaint. On November 21, 2008, Guidance Endodontics LLC filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court of New Mexico asserting claims against DENTSPLY arising principally out of a breach of a manufacturing and supply contract between the parties. Prior to trial, Guidance had claimed its damages were $1.2 million. The case went to trial in late September and early October 2009. On October 9, 2009, a jury returned a verdict against DENTSPLY, in the amount of approximately $4.0 million for past and future compensatory damages and $40.0 million in punitive damages. In April 2010, the District Court Judge formally entered the verdict that was reached in Octobe r 2009. The Company believes that this decision is not supported by the facts in the case or the applicable law and intends to vigorously pursue all available options to challenge it. The Company has filed a number of separate motions to overturn various aspects of the verdict, including the punitive and future damages, or in the alternative to be granted a new trial, because of the inappropriateness of such verdicts. The Court has denied four of the Company's post-trial Motions. The Company has two remaining Motions pending which the Court has not yet ruled on. As of September 30, 2010, a reasonable estimate of a possible range of loss related to the above litigation cannot be made except as reflected in the preceding paragraph. DENTSPLY does not believe the outcome of any of these matters will have a material adverse effect on its financial position. In the event that one or more of these matters is unfavorably resolved, it is possible the Company's results from operations could be materially impacted. Purchase Commitments From time to time, the Company enters into long-term inventory purchase commitments with minimum purchase requirements for raw materials and finished goods to ensure the availability of products for production and distribution. These commitments may have a significant impact on levels of inventory maintained by the Company.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policy)	9 Months Ended
SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policy)	Sep. 30, 2010
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Variable Interest Entities	Variable Interest Entities In June 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued accounting guidance for variable interest entities ("VIE"). The guidance includes: (1) the elimination of the exemption from consolidation for qualifying special purpose entities, (2) a new approach for determining the primary beneficiary of a VIE, which requires that the primary beneficiary have both (i) the power to control the most significant activities of the VIE and (ii) either the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that could potentially be significant to the VIE, and (3) the requirement to continually reassess who should consolidate a VIE. The Company adopted this guidance on January 1, 2010, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company's financial po sition and results of operations. The Company consolidates all VIE where the Company has determined that it has the power to direct the activities that most significantly impact the VIE's economic performance and shares in either the significant risks or rewards of the VIE. The Company continually reassesses VIE to determine if consolidation is appropriate.

STOCK COMPENSATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Share-based Compensation [Abstract]

Stock based compensation expense and the tax related benefit


	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in millions)	2010		2009		2010		2009

Stock option expense	$	2.4	$	3.1	$	8.2	$	9.0
RSU expense		1.8		1.6		5.6		4.8
Total stock based compensation expense	$	4.2	$	4.7	$	13.8	$	13.8

Total related tax benefit	$	1.2	$	1.4	$	2.7	$	4.0

Non-qualified stock option transactions


	Outstanding							Exercisable
				Weighted						Weighted
				Average		Aggregate				Average		Aggregate
(in thousands,				Exercise		Intrinsic				Exercise		Intrinsic
except per share data)	Shares			Price		Value		Shares		Price		Value

December 31, 2009		12,038		$	28.34	$	94,148		8,682	$	26.78	$	80,839
Granted		145			34.65
Exercised		(1,183	)		22.76
Forfeited		(162	)		33.93

September 30, 2010		10,838		$	28.95	$	51,226		7,611	$	27.47	$	44,527

Unvested restricted stock unit and RSU dividend transactions


	Unvested Restricted Stock and Stock Dividend Units
				Weighted Average
				Grant Date
(in thousands, except per share data)	Shares			Fair Value
Unvested at December 31, 2009		662		$	31.94
Granted		252			32.92
Vested		(207	)		31.42
Forfeited		(25	)		32.87

Unvested at September 30, 2010		682		$	32.43

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Comprehensive Income Note [Abstract]

Changes included in accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax, in the consolidated balance sheets


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009
Net income	$	63,815		$	67,853		$	199,351		$	198,362
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments		170,086			69,933			(44,947	)		81,085
Net loss on derivative financial instruments		(63,994	)		(29,053	)		(322	)		(21,422	)
Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior year service pension cost		(1,377	)		(697	)		299			431
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		104,715			40,183			(44,970	)		60,094

Total comprehensive income		168,530			108,036			154,381			258,456

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests		7,379			3,692			(1,778	)		3,505

Comprehensive income attributable to DENTSPLY International	$	161,151		$	104,344		$	156,159		$	254,951

Balances included in AOCI, net of tax, in the consolidated balance sheets


	September 30,			December 31,
(in thousands)	2010			2009

Foreign currency translation adjustments	$	178,417		$	220,116
Net loss on derivative financial instruments		(114,122	)		(113,800	)
Unrecognized losses and prior year service pension cost		(22,475	)		(22,774	)
	$	41,820		$	83,542

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Earnings Per Common Share Abstract

Earnings Per Share Computation


Basic Earnings Per Common Share Computation	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in thousands, except per share amounts)	2010		2009		2010		2009

Net income attributable to DENTSPLY International	$	63,653	$	67,483	$	197,881	$	199,424

Common shares outstanding		142,501		148,547		144,670		148,546

Earnings per common share - basic	$	0.45	$	0.45	$	1.37	$	1.34

Diluted Earnings Per Common Share Computation
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net income attributable to DENTSPLY International	$	63,653	$	67,483	$	197,881	$	199,424

Common shares outstanding		142,501		148,547		144,670		148,546
Incremental shares from assumed exercise of dilutive options		1,562		2,091		2,009		1,531
Total shares		144,063		150,638		146,679		150,077

Earnings per common share - diluted	$	0.44	$	0.45	$	1.35	$	1.33

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Segment Information Abstract

Third Party Net Sales

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	139,137		$	142,983		$	411,356		$	407,495
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		114,338			112,196			346,224			336,184
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		159,238			149,907			486,573			451,893
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		129,809			126,759			411,185			397,610
All Other (a)		(707	)		(642	)		(2,493	)		(2,198	)
Total	$	541,815		$	531,203		$	1,652,845		$	1,590,984

(a) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters.

Third Party Net Sales, Excluding Precious Metal Content

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	139,137		$	142,983		$	411,356		$	407,495
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		106,499			104,008			320,606			311,098
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		158,682			149,219			484,723			449,815
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		90,735			98,250			296,309			304,784
All Other (a)		(707	)		(642	)		(2,493	)		(2,198	)
Total excluding precious metal content		494,346			493,818			1,510,501			1,470,994
Precious metal content		47,469			37,385			142,344			119,990
Total including precious metal content	$	541,815		$	531,203		$	1,652,845		$	1,590,984

(a) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters.

Inter-segment Net Sales

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	30,940		$	27,759		$	88,003		$	74,488
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		3,396			2,590			12,052			9,037
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		31,187			24,424			85,864			77,241
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		25,355			27,823			82,950			82,972
All Other (b)		43,218			42,914			132,302			124,261
Eliminations		(134,096	)		(125,510	)		(401,171	)		(367,999	)
Total	$	-		$	-		$	-		$	-

(b) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters and one distribution warehouse not managed by named segments.

Segment Operating Income

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	53,164		$	49,034		$	147,679		$	125,780
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa,Pacific Rim Businesses		3,892			3,743			9,299			11,268
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		44,910			39,543			142,073			135,068
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		14,691			19,032			59,648			65,222
All Other (a)		(25,900	)		(17,201	)		(68,727	)		(53,591	)
Segment operating income		90,757			94,151			289,972			283,747

Reconciling Items:
Restructuring and other costs		(338	)		(1,210	)		(5,261	)		(5,905	)
Interest expense		(5,999	)		(5,456	)		(18,406	)		(16,877	)
Interest income		1,268			858			2,883			4,326
Other expense (income), net		(585	)		(491	)		(2,252	)		(1,359	)
Income before income taxes	$	85,103		$	87,852		$	266,936		$	263,932

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

Assets


Assets
	September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2010		2009

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	604,496	$	602,272
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		395,587		388,831
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		890,657		809,924
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		933,908		973,764
All Other (b)		370,508		313,141
Total	$	3,195,156	$	3,087,932

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

INVENTORIES (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Inventory, Net [Abstract]

Inventories, net of valuation reserves


	September 30,		December 31,
(in thousands)	2010		2009

Finished goods	$	194,285	$	178,721
Work-in-process		54,976		53,056
Raw materials and supplies		68,810		59,863
	$	318,071	$	291,640

BENEFIT PLANS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Defined Benefit Postretirement Plans Disclosure [Abstract]

Defined Benefit Plans


Defined Benefit Plans	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010			2009			2010			2009

Service cost	$	2,017		$	2,144		$	5,950		$	6,211
Interest cost		2,094			2,059			6,251			5,957
Expected return on plan assets		(1,179	)		(1,012	)		(3,447	)		(2,951	)
Amortization of transition obligation		32			61			91			177
Amortization of prior service cost		19			34			63			103
Amortization of net loss		247			423			722			1,241

Net periodic benefit cost	$	3,230		$	3,709		$	9,630		$	10,738

Other Postretirement Plans


Other Postretirement Plans	Three Months Ended				Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	2010		2009		2010		2009

Service cost	$	14	$	13	$	43	$	40
Interest cost		152		156		458		467
Amortization of net loss		69		50		206		151

Net periodic benefit cost	$	235	$	219	$	707	$	658

Schedule of funding of the Company's benefit plans


			Other
	Pension		Postretirement
(in thousands)	Benefits		Benefits

Actual at September 30, 2010	$	5,677	$	68
Projected for the remainder of the year		3,049		1,039
Total for year	$	8,726	$	1,107

RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER COSTS (Tables)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Restructuring Costs [Abstract]

Restructuring accruals


	Severance
	2008 and
(in thousands)	Prior Plans			2009 Plans			2010 Plans			Total
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	5,301		$	3,240		$	-		$	8,541
Provisions and adjustments		(127	)		-			1,037			910
Amounts applied		(2,288	)		(1,655	)		(1,014	)		(4,957	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	2,886		$	1,585		$	23		$	4,494

	Lease/Contract Terminations
	2008 and
(in thousands)	Prior Plans			Total
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	1,093		$	1,093
Provisions and adjustments		-			-
Amounts applied		(65	)		(65	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	1,028		$	1,028

	Other Restructuring Costs
	2008 and
(in thousands)	Prior Plans			2009 Plans			2010 Plans			Total
Balance at December 31, 2009	$	112		$	16		$	-		$	128
Provisions and adjustments		45			172			82			299
Amounts applied		(67	)		(188	)		(82	)		(337	)
Balance at September 30, 2010	$	90		$	-		$	-		$	90

Schedule of restructuring activity by segments


	December 31,		Provisions and		Amounts			September 30,
(in thousands)	2009		Adjustments		Applied			2010

United States, Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses	$	1,245	$	472	$	(529	)	$	1,188
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses		84		212		(212	)		84
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics		639		-		(639	)		-
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental		7,794		525		(3,979	)		4,340
	$	9,762	$	1,209	$	(5,359	)	$	5,612

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Sep. 30, 2009

Sep. 30, 2010

Sep. 30, 2009

Dec. 31, 2009

Financial Instruments And Derivatives Abstract

Schedule of fair value of cash flow hedges


	Notional Amounts Maturing in the Year								Fair Value Net Asset (Liability)
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts	2010			2011			2012		September 30, 2010
(in thousands)

Forward sale, 11.7 million Australian dollars	$	4,951		$	5,528		$	786	$	(532	)
Forward purchase, 5.5 million British pounds		(3,250	)		(5,364	)		-		72
Forward sale, 23.7 million Canadian dollars		5,499			15,887			1,665		131
Forward sale, 5.1 million Danish kroner		935			-			-		9
Forward purchase, 0.9 million euros		(1,189	)		-			-		640
Forward sale, 9.7 million euros		-			13,154			-		897
Forward sale, 439.9 million Japanese yen		5,271			-			-		409
Forward purchase, 313.4 million Japanese yen		-			(3,756	)		-		401
Forward sale, 115.1 million Mexican pesos		9,135			-			-		97
Forward purchase, 1.0 million Norwegian kroner		(173	)		-			-		(2	)
Forward sale, 2.0 million Singapore dollars		1,534			-			-		55
Forward sale, 1.2 billion South Korean won		1,024			-			-		48
Forward purchase, 42.0 million Swiss francs		(42,805	)		-			-		301

Total foreign exchange forward contracts	$	(19,068	)	$	25,449		$	2,451	$	2,526

Schedule of fair value of cash flow hedges, interest rate swaps


	Notional Amount										Fair Value Net Asset (Liability)
Interest Rate Swaps	2010		2011		2012		2013		2014 and Beyond		2010
(in thousands)

Euro	$	322	$	1,286	$	1,286	$	1,286	$	4,180	$	(817	)
Japanese yen		-		-		150,410		-		-		(2,400	)
Swiss francs		-		-		66,266		-		-		(3,521	)
Total interest rate swaps	$	322	$	1,286	$	217,962	$	1,286	$	4,180	$	(6,738	)

Schedule of fair value of cash flow hedges, commodity contracts


							Fair Value Net
	Notional Amount						Asset (Liability)
Commodity Contracts	2010			2011			2010
(in thousands)

Silver swap - U.S. dollar	$	(254	)	$	(127	)	$	94
Platinum swap - U.S. dollar		(55	)		-			12
Total commodity contracts	$	(309	)	$	(127	)	$	106

Schedule of fair value of hedges of net investments


	Notional Amount								Fair Value Net Asset (Liability)
Cross Currency Basis Swaps	2010		2011		2012		2013		2010
(in thousands)

Swiss franc 592.5 million @ 1.17 pay CHF three month LIBOR rec. USD three month LIBOR	$	-	$	81,966	$	57,702	$	464,369	$	(97,057	)
Euros 358.0 million @ $1.17 pay EUR three month LIBOR rec. USD three month LIBOR		147,069		-		-		340,438		(67,578	)
Total cross currency basis swaps	$	147,069	$	81,966	$	57,702	$	804,807	$	(164,635	)

Schedule of the fair value and balance sheet location of the Company's derivatives


	September 30, 2010
	Prepaid
(in thousands)	Expenses		Other				Other
	and Other		Noncurrent		Accrued		Noncurrent
Designated as Hedges	Current Assets		Assets, Net		Liabilities		Liabilities

Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	1,824	$	248	$	199	$	51
Commodity contracts		106		-		-		-
Interest rate swaps		-		172		5,419		674
Cross currency basis swaps		-		-		20,348		144,287
Total	$	1,930	$	420	$	25,966	$	145,012

Not Designated as Hedges

Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	1,138	$	-	$	434	$	-
Interest rate swaps		-		-		123		694
Total	$	1,138	$	-	$	557	$	694


	December 31, 2009
	Prepaid
(in thousands)	Expenses		Other				Other
	and Other		Noncurrent		Accrued		Noncurrent
Designated as Hedges	Current Assets		Assets, Net		Liabilities		Liabilities

Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	598	$	5	$	1,010	$	16
Commodity contracts		293		-		-		-
Interest rate swaps		-		-		6,130		2,775
Cross currency basis swaps		-		-		52,411		124,210
Total	$	891	$	5	$	59,551	$	127,001

Not Designated as Hedges

Foreign exchange forward contracts	$	556	$	-	$	409	$	-
Interest rate swaps		-		-		-		882
Total	$	556	$	-	$	409	$	882

Schedule of consolidated statement of operations impact of the Company's cash flow hedges


Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging					Effective Portion
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Reclassified from
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	AOCI into Income
Interest rate contracts	$	(636	)	Interest expense	$	(1,175	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(597	)	Cost of products sold		189
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(336	)	SG&A expenses		312
Commodity contracts		61		Cost of products sold		140
Total	$	(1,508	)		$	(534	)


Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging					Effective Portion
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Reclassified from
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	AOCI into Income
Interest rate contracts	$	(2,051	)	Interest expense	$	(2,252	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(243	)	Cost of products sold		(302	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(449	)	SG&A expenses		240
Commodity contracts		343		Cost of products sold		(190	)
Total	$	(2,400	)		$	(2,504	)


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging					Effective Portion
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Reclassified from
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	AOCI into Income
Interest rate contracts	$	(1,515	)	Interest expense	$	(4,414	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		2,306		Cost of products sold		214
Foreign exchange forward contracts		361		SG&A expenses		530
Commodity contracts		232		Cost of products sold		580
Total	$	1,384			$	(3,090	)


Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging					Effective Portion
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Reclassified from
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	AOCI into Income
Interest rate contracts	$	(3,425	)	Interest expense	$	(5,594	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts		(501	)	Cost of products sold		1,106
Foreign exchange forward contracts		431		SG&A expenses		434
Commodity contracts		1,465		Cost of products sold		(1,095	)
Total	$	(2,030	)		$	(5,149	)

Schedule of consolidated statement of operations impact of the Company's cash flow hedges, ineffective portion


Three Months Ended September 30, 2010

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging		Ineffective portion
	Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net	$	(43	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(120	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		7
Commodity contracts	Interest expense		(5	)
Total		$	(161	)


Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging		Ineffective portion
	Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net	$	(54	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(54	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		13
Commodity contracts	Interest expense		(9	)
Total		$	(104	)


Nine Months Ended September 30, 2010

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging		Ineffective portion
	Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net	$	149
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(405	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		4
Commodity contracts	Interest expense		(11	)
Total		$	(263	)


Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging		Ineffective portion
	Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net	$	(155	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(235	)
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Interest expense		(35	)
Commodity contracts	Interest expense		(38	)
Total		$	(463	)

Schedule of consolidated statement of operations impact of the Company's hedges of net investment


Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging					Gain (Loss)
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	(54,204	)	Interest income	$	423
				Interest expense		(6	)
Cross currency interest rate swaps		(48,688	)	Interest expense		(542	)
Total	$	(102,892	)		$	(125	)

Three Months Ended September 30, 2009

Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging					Gain (Loss)
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	(25,826	)	Interest income	$	190
Cross currency interest rate swaps		(21,525	)	Interest expense		(896	)
Total	$	(47,351	)		$	(706	)


Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging					Gain (Loss)
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	(31,186	)	Interest income	$	643
				Interest expense		(85	)
Cross currency interest rate swaps		25,715		Interest expense		(1,663	)
Total	$	(5,471	)		$	(1,105	)

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009

Derivatives in Net Investment Hedging					Gain (Loss)
	Gain (Loss)			Classification	Recognized
(in thousands)	in AOCI			of Gains (Losses)	in Income
Cross currency interest rate swaps	$	(12,911	)	Interest income	$	1,402
Cross currency interest rate swaps		(25,054	)	Interest expense		(3,340	)
Total	$	(37,965	)		$	(1,938	)

Schedule of consolidated statement of operations impact of the Company's derivatives not designated as hedges


Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging
	Classification	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	September 30, 2010			September 30, 2010
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Other expense, net	$	12,173		$	1,296
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense		(41	)		(220	)
Total		$	12,132		$	1,076

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging
	Classification	Three Months Ended			Nine Months Ended
(in thousands)	of Gains (Losses)	September 30, 2009			September 30, 2009
Foreign exchange forward contracts	Other expense, net	$	2,485		$	(13,428	)
Interest rate contracts	Other expense, net		-			(2	)
Interest rate contracts	Interest expense		(124	)		(390	)
Total		$	2,361		$	(13,820	)

Schedule of AOCI, net of tax, related to cash flow hedging instruments roll forward


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(in thousands, net of tax)	2010			2009			2010			2009

Beginning balance	$	(944	)	$	(6,005	)	$	(4,799	)	$	(7,874	)

Changes in fair value of derivatives		(1,051	)		(1,506	)		1,221			(1,152	)
Reclassifications to earnings from equity		233			1,526			1,816			3,041
Total activity		(818	)		20			3,037			1,889

Ending balance	$	(1,762	)	$	(5,985	)	$	(1,762	)	$	(5,985	)

Schedule of AOCI, net of tax, related to hedges of net investments in foreign operations


	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
	September 30,						September 30,
(in thousands, net of tax)	2010			2009			2010			2009

Beginning balance	$	(33,636	)	$	93,272		$	111,115		$	77,585

Foreign currency translation adjustment		171,847			74,264			(29,999	)		78,776
Changes in fair value of:
Foreign currency debt		(8,978	)		(7,673	)		(11,700	)		(2,260	)
Derivative hedge instruments		(63,176	)		(29,073	)		(3,359	)		(23,311	)
Total activity		99,693			37,518			(45,058	)		53,205

Ending balance	$	66,057		$	130,790		$	66,057		$	130,790

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Tables)

9 Months Ended

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Dec. 31, 2009

Fair Value Measurment Abstract

Carrying value of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis


	September 30, 2010
(in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Assets
Money market funds	$	424,445	$	424,445	$	-	$	-
Commodity contracts		106		-		106		-
Interest rate swaps		172				172
Foreign exchange forward contracts		3,210		-		3,210		-
Total assets	$	427,933	$	424,445	$	3,488	$	-

Liabilities
Interest rate swaps	$	6,910	$	-	$	6,910	$	-
Cross currency basis swaps		164,635		-		164,635		-
Foreign exchange forward contracts		684		-		684		-
Total liabilities	$	172,229	$	-	$	172,229	$	-


	December 31, 2009
(in thousands)	Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3

Assets
Money market funds	$	364,765	$	364,765	$	-	$	-
Commodity contracts		293		-		293		-
Foreign exchange forward contracts		1,159		-		1,159		-
Total assets	$	366,217	$	364,765	$	1,452	$	-

Liabilities
Interest rate swaps	$	9,787	$	-	$	9,787	$	-
Cross currency basis swaps		176,621		-		176,621		-
Foreign exchange forward contracts		1,435		-		1,435		-
Total liabilities	$	187,843	$	-	$	187,843	$	-

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 11.5	$ 13.3

STOCK COMPENSATION (Details) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2009 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($) shares	Sep. 30, 2009 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($) shares	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($) shares
Share-based Compensation [Abstract]
Authorized grants under the plan							13,000
Percentage threshold of outstanding stock for determining availability of grants under Company Plan			7.00%
Common stock amount of shares threshold for determining availability of grants under Company Plan							13,000
Cap on restricted stock or RSU				2,500
Cap on restricted stock or RSU granted to key employees				200
Stock option expiration term, years				10
RSU vesting period, years			3
Stock option vesting per year, percentage			0.333
RSU vesting percentage			100
Stock option expense \| $	$ 2,400	$ 3,100		$ 8,200	$ 9,000
RSU expense \| $	1,800	1,600		5,600	4,800
Total stock based compensation expense \| $	4,200	4,700		13,800	13,800
Total related tax benefit \| $	$ 1,200	$ 1,400		$ 2,700	$ 4,000
The remaining unamortized compensation cost related to non-qualified stock options \| $							$ 11,000
Unamortized stock option compensation cost weighted average remaining vesting period, years			1.3
The remaining unamortized compensation cost related to RSU \| $							$ 8,500
Remaining restricted period of RSU, years			1.4
Outstanding Shares							10,838		12,038
Granted, Outstanding Shares				145
Exercised, Outstanding Shares				(1,183)
Forfeited, Outstanding Shares				(162)
Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price			pure 28.95					pure 28.34
Granted, Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price			34.65
Exercised, Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price			22.76
Forfeited, Outstanding Weighted Average Exercise Price			33.93
Outstanding Aggregate Intrinsic Value \| $							$ 51,226		$ 94,148
Exercisable Shares							7,611		8,682
Exercisable Weighted Average Exercise Price			pure 27.47					26.78
Exercisable Aggregate Intrinsic Value \| $				$ 44,527		$ 80,839
Weighted average remaining contractual term of all options, years			6.0
Weighted average remaining contractual term of exercisable options, years			4.7
Outstanding Shares							682		662
Granted, Outstanding Shares				252
Vested, Outstanding Shares				(207)
Forfeited, Outstanding Shares				(25)
Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value			pure 32.43					pure 31.94
Granted, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value			32.92
Vested, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value			31.42
Forfeited, Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value			pure 32.87

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009
Comprehensive Income Note [Abstract]
Net income	$ 63,815	$ 67,853	$ 199,351	$ 198,362
Foreign currency translation adjustments	170,086	69,933	(44,947)	81,085
Net loss on derivative financial instruments	(63,994)	(29,053)	(322)	(21,422)
Amortization of unrecognized losses and prior year service pension cost	(1,377)	(697)	299	431
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	104,715	40,183	(44,970)	60,094
Total comprehensive income	168,530	108,036	154,381	258,456
Comprehensive loss (income) attributable to the noncontrolling interests	7,379	3,692	(1,778)	3,505
Comprehensive (loss) income attributable to DENTSPLY International	161,151	104,344	156,159	254,951
Currency translation losses			36,400
Currency translation gains	175,900	77,600		83,400
Losses on loans designated as hedges of net investments	5,800	$ 7,700	8,500	$ 2,300
Foreign currency translation adjustments	178,417		178,417		$ 220,116
Changes in fair value of derivatives	(114,122)		(114,122)		(113,800)
Unrecognized losses and prior year service pension cost	(22,475)		(22,475)		(22,774)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$ 41,820		41,820		83,542
Translation gains included in cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments			297,800		327,800
Cumulative losses on loans designated as hedges of net investments			$ 119,400		$ 107,700

EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Earnings Per Common Share Abstract
Net income attributable to DENTSPLY International	$ 63,653	$ 67,483	$ 197,881	$ 199,424
Common shares outstanding	142,501	148,547	144,670	148,546
Earnings per common share - basic	$ 0.45	$ 0.45	$ 1.37	$ 1.34
Incremental shares from assumed exercise of dilutive options	1,562	2,091	2,009	1,531
Total shares	144,063	150,638	146,679	150,077
Earnings per common share - diluted	$ 0.44	$ 0.45	$ 1.35	$ 1.33
Antidilutive common stock options excluded from the diluted net income per share calculation	4,300	1,500	3,300	4,500

BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)
Business Acquisitions Abstract
Acquisition activity	$ 22.0
Goodwill	$ 14.3

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Thousands

3 Months Ended

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2010

Sep. 30, 2009

Sep. 30, 2010

Sep. 30, 2009

Dec. 31, 2009

Statement [Line Items]

Percentage of sales provided by professional dental products

97.00%

Net sales

$ 541,815

$ 531,203

$ 1,652,845

$ 1,590,984

Net sales, excluding precious metal count

494,346

493,818

1,510,501

1,470,994

Precious metal content

47,469

37,385

142,344

119,990

Total including precious metal content

541,815

531,203

1,652,845

1,590,984

Inter-segment net sales

Segment operating income

90,757

94,151

289,972

283,747

Restructuring and other costs

(338)

(1,210)

(5,261)

(5,905)

Interest expense

(5,999)

(5,456)

(18,406)

(16,877)

Interest income

1,268

858

2,883

4,326

Other expense (income), net

(585)

(491)

(2,252)

(1,359)

Income before income taxes

85,103

87,852

266,936

263,932

Assets

3,195,156

$ 3,087,932

U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses [Member]

Statement [Line Items]

Net sales

139,137

142,983

411,356

407,495

Net sales, excluding precious metal count

139,137

142,983

411,356

407,495

Inter-segment net sales

30,940

27,759

88,003

74,488

Segment operating income

53,164

49,034

147,679

125,780

Assets

604,496

602,272

France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses [Member]

Statement [Line Items]

Net sales

114,338

112,196

346,224

336,184

Net sales, excluding precious metal count

106,499

104,008

320,606

311,098

Inter-segment net sales

3,396

2,590

12,052

9,037

Segment operating income

3,892

3,743

9,299

11,268

Assets

395,587

388,831

Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics [Member]

Statement [Line Items]

Net sales

159,238

149,907

486,573

451,893

Net sales, excluding precious metal count

158,682

149,219

484,723

449,815

Inter-segment net sales

31,187

24,424

85,864

77,241

Segment operating income

44,910

39,543

142,073

135,068

Assets

890,657

809,924

Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental [Member]

Statement [Line Items]

Net sales

129,809

126,759

411,185

397,610

Net sales, excluding precious metal count

90,735

98,250

296,309

304,784

Inter-segment net sales

25,355

27,823

82,950

82,972

Segment operating income

14,691

19,032

59,648

65,222

Assets

933,908

973,764

All Other [Member]

Statement [Line Items]

Net sales

^[1]

(707)

(642)

(2,493)

(2,198)

Net sales, excluding precious metal count

^[1]

(707)

(642)

(2,493)

(2,198)

Inter-segment net sales

^[2]

43,218

42,914

132,302

124,261

Segment operating income

^[3]

(25,900)

(17,201)

(68,727)

(53,591)

Assets

^[4]

370,508

$ 313,141

Eliminations [Member]

Statement [Line Items]

Inter-segment net sales

$ (134,096)

$ (125,510)

$ (401,171)

$ (367,999)

[1]	(a) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters.
[2]	(b) Includes amounts recorded at Corporate headquarters and one distribution warehouse not managed by named segments.
[3]	(a) Includes the results of Corporate headquarters, inter-segment eliminations and one distribution warehouse not managed by named segments.
[4]	(b) Includes the assets of Corporate headquarters, inter-segment eliminations and one distribution warehouse not managed by named segments.

INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Cost of LIFO inventory	$ 8,300	$ 7,800
Percentage of LIFO inventory at balance sheet dates	2.60%	2.70%
Inventory valuation reserves	$ 36,900	$ 31,900
Valuation increase if FIFO method was used to determine LIFO inventories	4,300	4,000
Finished goods	194,285	178,721
Work in process	54,976	53,056
Raw materials and supplies	68,810	59,863
Total inventory, net	$ 318,071	$ 291,640

BENEFIT PLANS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
BENEFIT PLANS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Defined Benefit Plans [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Service cost	$ 2,017	$ 2,144	$ 5,950	$ 6,211
Interest cost	2,094	2,059	6,251	5,957
Expected return on plan assets	(1,179)	(1,012)	(3,447)	(2,951)
Amortization of transition obligation	32	61	91	177
Amortization of prior service cost	19	34	63	103
Amortization of net loss	247	423	722	1,241
Net periodic benefit cost	3,230	3,709	9,630	10,738
Actual at September 30, 2010			5,677
Projected for the remainder of the year			3,049
Total for year			8,726
Other Postretirement Plans [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Service cost	14	13	43	40
Interest cost	152	156	458	467
Amortization of net loss	69	50	206	151
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 235	$ 219	707	$ 658
Actual at September 30, 2010			68
Projected for the remainder of the year			1,039
Total for year			$ 1,107

RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER COSTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Statement [Line Items]
Other costs for third quarter in 2010 and 2009	$ 1,200	$ 0	$ 4,100	$ 1,600
Restructuring costs for third quarter in 2010 and 2009	300	$ 0	1,200	$ 4,300
Balance at December 31, 2009			9,762
Provisions and adjustments			1,209
Amounts applied			(5,359)
Balance at September 30, 2010	5,612		5,612
Severance [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			8,541
Provisions and adjustments			910
Amounts applied			(4,957)
Balance at September 30, 2010	4,494		4,494
Lease/Contract Terminations [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			1,093
Provisions and adjustments
Amounts applied			(65)
Balance at September 30, 2010	1,028		1,028
U.S., Germany and Certain Other European Regions Consumable Businesses [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			1,245
Provisions and adjustments			472
Amounts applied			(529)
Balance at September 30, 2010	1,188		1,188
France, U.K., Italy and Certain Other European Countries, CIS, Middle East, Africa, Pacific Rim Businesses [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			84
Provisions and adjustments			212
Amounts applied			(212)
Balance at September 30, 2010	84		84
Canada/Latin America/Endodontics/Orthodontics [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			639
Provisions and adjustments
Amounts applied			(639)
Balance at September 30, 2010
Dental Laboratory Business/Implants/Non-Dental [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			7,794
Provisions and adjustments			525
Amounts applied			(3,979)
Balance at September 30, 2010	4,340		4,340
Other Restructuring Costs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			128
Provisions and adjustments			299
Amounts applied			(337)
Balance at September 30, 2010	90		90
Prior Plans 2008 [Member] \| Severance [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			5,301
Provisions and adjustments			(127)
Amounts applied			(2,288)
Balance at September 30, 2010	2,886		2,886
Prior Plans 2008 [Member] \| Lease/Contract Terminations [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			1,093
Provisions and adjustments
Amounts applied			(65)
Balance at September 30, 2010	1,028		1,028
Prior Plans 2008 [Member] \| Other Restructuring Costs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			112
Provisions and adjustments			45
Amounts applied			(67)
Balance at September 30, 2010	90		90
Plans 2009 [Member] \| Severance [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			3,240
Provisions and adjustments
Amounts applied			(1,655)
Balance at September 30, 2010	1,585		1,585
Plans 2009 [Member] \| Other Restructuring Costs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009			16
Provisions and adjustments			172
Amounts applied			(188)
Balance at September 30, 2010
Plans 2010 [Member] \| Severance [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009
Provisions and adjustments			1,037
Amounts applied			(1,014)
Balance at September 30, 2010	23		23
Plans 2010 [Member] \| Lease/Contract Terminations [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Provisions and adjustments
Plans 2010 [Member] \| Other Restructuring Costs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance at December 31, 2009
Provisions and adjustments			82
Amounts applied			(82)
Balance at September 30, 2010

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Narrative) (Details) SFr in Millions, $ in Millions, ¥ in Billions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2010 CHF (SFr)	Sep. 30, 2010 JPY (¥)	Sep. 30, 2010 CHF (SFr)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)
Swap [Member] \| Cross Currency Contracts [Member] \| Net Investment Hedging [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
The estimated net fair values of the swap agreements recorded in AOCI, net of tax effects, and as other noncurrent liabilities and other noncurrent assets. \| $				$ 164.6	$ 176.6
Japanese Yen, Swap [Member] \| Swap [Member] \| Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
The Company has a variable interest rate to fixed interest rate swap that has a notional amount of Japanese yen/Swiss francs, and effectively converts the underlying variable interest rates to an average fixed interest rate for a fixed term \| ¥		¥ 12.6
Swiss Francs, Swap [Member] \| Swap [Member] \| Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
The Company has a variable interest rate to fixed interest rate swap that has a notional amount of Japanese yen/Swiss francs, and effectively converts the underlying variable interest rates to an average fixed interest rate for a fixed term			SFr 65.0
Platinum Bullion [Member] \| Commodity Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
The Company had swaps in place to purchase troy ounces of platinum bullion for use in the production of its impression material products. There is an average fixed rate in this agreement per troy ounce. In addition, the Company had swaps in place to purchase troy ounces of silver bullion for use in the production of its amalgam products at an average fixed rate per troy ounce.		33	33	33
Derivative, average fixed rate, per troy ounce		1,303	1,303	1,303
Silver Bullion [Member] \| Commodity Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
The Company had swaps in place to purchase troy ounces of platinum bullion for use in the production of its impression material products. There is an average fixed rate in this agreement per troy ounce. In addition, the Company had swaps in place to purchase troy ounces of silver bullion for use in the production of its amalgam products at an average fixed rate per troy ounce.		17,208	17,208	17,208
Derivative, average fixed rate, per troy ounce		17	17	17
Swiss Francs, Cross Currency Basis Swaps, 100.0 million [Member] \| Maturity Year, 2013 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Cross currency basis swaps entered into during the year	SFr 100.0
Swiss Francs, Cross Currency Basis Swaps, 55.5 million [Member] \| Maturity Year, 2013 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Cross currency basis swaps entered into during the year	SFr 55.5
Scenario, Forecast [Member] \| Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedges [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Deferred net losses on derivative instruments \| $				$ 1.5

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Cash flow hedges) (Parenthetical) (Details) - Sep. 30, 2010 € in Millions, ¥ in Millions, £ in Millions, kr in Millions, kr in Millions, SFr in Millions, $ in Millions, $ in Millions, $ in Millions, $ in Millions, ₩ in Billions	SGD ($)	MXN ($)	KRW (₩)	DKK (kr)	CAD ($)	AUD ($)	NOK (kr)	JPY (¥)	GBP (£)	EUR (€)	CHF (SFr)
Financial Instruments And Derivatives Abstract
Forward sale	$ 2.0	$ 115.1	₩ 1.2	kr 5.1	$ 23.7	$ 11.7		¥ 439.9		€ 9.7
Forward purchase							kr 1.0	¥ 313.4	£ 5.5	€ 0.9	SFr 42.0

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Hedges of net investments in foreign operations) (Details) - Net Investment Hedging [Member] - Cross Currency Basis Swaps [Member] $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 147,069
Fair value net asset (liability)	(164,635)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Swiss franc 592.5 million @ $1.17 pay CHF 3mo. LIBOR rec. USD 3mo. LIBOR [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount
Fair value net asset (liability)	(97,057)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Euros 358.0 Million @ $1.17 Pay EUR 3mo. LIBOR rec. USD 3mo. LIBOR [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	147,069
Fair value net asset (liability)	(67,578)
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	81,966
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Swiss franc 592.5 million @ $1.17 pay CHF 3mo. LIBOR rec. USD 3mo. LIBOR [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	81,966
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Euros 358.0 Million @ $1.17 Pay EUR 3mo. LIBOR rec. USD 3mo. LIBOR [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	57,702
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Swiss franc 592.5 million @ $1.17 pay CHF 3mo. LIBOR rec. USD 3mo. LIBOR [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	57,702
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Euros 358.0 Million @ $1.17 Pay EUR 3mo. LIBOR rec. USD 3mo. LIBOR [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount
Maturity Year, 2013 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	804,807
Maturity Year, 2013 [Member] \| Swiss franc 592.5 million @ $1.17 pay CHF 3mo. LIBOR rec. USD 3mo. LIBOR [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	464,369
Maturity Year, 2013 [Member] \| Euros 358.0 Million @ $1.17 Pay EUR 3mo. LIBOR rec. USD 3mo. LIBOR [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 340,438

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Hedges of net investments in foreign operations) (Parenthetical) (Details) - Sep. 30, 2010 € in Millions, SFr in Millions	EUR (€)	CHF (SFr)	USD ($)
Financial Instruments And Derivatives Abstract
Forward contract amounts	€ 358.0	SFr 592.5
Forward exchange rate, pay CHF three month LIBOR rec. USD three month LIBOR			$ 1.17
Forward exchange rate, pay EUR three month LIBOR rec. USD three month LIBOR			$ 1.17

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Fair value and consolidated balance sheet location of derivatives) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Statement [Line Items]
Other noncurrent assets, net	$ 55,158	$ 28,835
Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,930	891
Other noncurrent assets, net	420	5
Accrued liabilities	25,966	59,551
Other noncurrent liabilities	145,012	127,001
Nondesignated [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,138	556
Other noncurrent assets, net
Accrued liabilities	557	409
Other noncurrent liabilities	694	882
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,824	598
Other noncurrent assets, net	248	5
Accrued liabilities	199	1,010
Other noncurrent liabilities	51	16
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Nondesignated [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	1,138	556
Other noncurrent assets, net
Accrued liabilities	434	409
Other noncurrent liabilities
Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	106	293
Other noncurrent assets, net
Accrued liabilities
Other noncurrent liabilities
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Other noncurrent assets, net	172
Accrued liabilities	5,419	6,130
Other noncurrent liabilities	674	2,775
Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Nondesignated [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Other noncurrent assets, net
Accrued liabilities	123
Other noncurrent liabilities	694	882
Cross Currency Basis Swaps [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
Other noncurrent assets, net
Accrued liabilities	20,348	52,411
Other noncurrent liabilities	$ 144,287	$ 124,210

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Impact of cash flow hedges) (Details) - Cash Flow Hedges [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income	$ (1,508)	$ (2,400)	$ 1,384	$ (2,030)
Effective portion reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive into income	(534)	(2,504)	(3,090)	(5,149)
Ineffective portion recognized in income	(161)	(104)	(263)	(463)
Interest Rate Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income	(636)	(2,051)	(1,515)	(3,425)
Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Other expenses, net [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Ineffective portion recognized in income	(43)	(54)	149	(155)
Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Interest expense [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Effective portion reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive into income	(1,175)	(2,252)	(4,414)	(5,594)
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts 1 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income	(597)	(243)	2,306	(501)
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts 1 [Member] \| Interest expense [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Ineffective portion recognized in income	(120)	(54)	(405)	(235)
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts 1 [Member] \| Cost of products sold [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Effective portion reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive into income	189	(302)	214	1,106
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts 2 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income	(336)	(449)	361	431
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts 2 [Member] \| Interest expense [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Ineffective portion recognized in income	7	13	4	(35)
Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts 2 [Member] \| Selling general and administrative expenses [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Effective portion reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive into income	312	240	530	434
Commodity Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income	61	343	232	1,465
Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Interest expense [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Ineffective portion recognized in income	(5)	(9)	(11)	(38)
Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Cost of products sold [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Effective portion reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive into income	$ 140	$ (190)	$ 580	$ (1,095)

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Impact of the hedges of net investment on consolidated statement of operations) (Details) - Net Investment Hedging [Member] - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income	$ (102,892)	$ (47,351)	$ (5,471)	$ (37,965)
Gain (loss) recognized in income	(125)	(706)	(1,105)	(1,938)
Cross Currency Basis Swaps 1 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income	(54,204)	(25,826)	(31,186)	(12,911)
Cross Currency Basis Swaps 1 [Member] \| Interest income [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) recognized in income	423	190	643	1,402
Cross Currency Basis Swaps 2 [Member] \| Interest expense [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) recognized in income	(6)		(85)
Cross Currency Basis Swaps 3 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) in accumulated other comprehensive income	(48,688)	(21,525)	25,715	(25,054)
Cross Currency Basis Swaps 3 [Member] \| Interest expense [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Gain (loss) recognized in income	$ (542)	$ (896)	$ (1,663)	$ (3,340)

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Impact of derivatives not designated as hedges on consolidated statement of operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Statement [Line Items]
Total derivative not designated as hedging, gain (loss) recognized in income	$ 12,132	$ 2,361	$ 1,076	$ (13,820)
Other expenses, net [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Derivative not designated as hedging instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, foreign exchange forward contracts	12,173	2,485	1,296	(13,428)
Derivative not designated as hedging instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, interest rate contracts				(2)
Interest expense [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Derivative not designated as hedging instruments, gain (loss) recognized in income, interest rate contracts	$ (41)	$ (124)	$ (220)	$ (390)

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (AOCI Amounts Related to Cash Flow Hedging and Net Investments in Foreign Operations Tables) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Jun. 30, 2009	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Statement [Line Items]
Balance	$ (114,122)				$ (114,122)		$ (113,800)
AOCI Related to Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Balance	(1,762)	$ (944)	$ (5,985)	$ (6,005)	(1,762)	$ (5,985)	(4,799)	$ (7,874)
Changes in fair value of derivatives	(1,051)		(1,506)		1,221	(1,152)
Reclassification to earnings from equity	233		1,526		1,816	3,041
Total activity	(818)		20		3,037	1,889
AOCI Related to Hedges of Net Investments [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Total activity	99,693		37,518		(45,058)	53,205
AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCumulativeChangesInNetGainLossFromHedgingActivitiesEffectNetOfTax	66,057	$ (33,636)	130,790	$ 93,272	66,057	130,790	$ 111,115	$ 77,585
Foreign currency translation adjustment	171,847		74,264		(29,999)	78,776
Foreign currency debt	(8,978)		(7,673)		(11,700)	(2,260)
Derivative hedge instrument	$ (63,176)		$ (29,073)		$ (3,359)	$ (23,311)

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Statement [Line Items]
Money market funds	$ 424,445	$ 364,765
Commodity contracts	106	293
Interest rate swaps	172
Foreign exchange forward contracts	3,210	1,159
Total assets	427,933	366,217
Interest rate swaps	6,910	9,787
Cross currency basis swaps	164,635	176,621
Foreign exchange forward contracts	684	1,435
Total liabilities	172,229	187,843
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Money market funds	424,445	364,765
Commodity contracts
Interest rate swaps
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Total assets	424,445	364,765
Interest rate swaps
Cross currency basis swaps
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Total liabilities
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Money market funds
Commodity contracts	106	293
Interest rate swaps	172
Foreign exchange forward contracts	3,210	1,159
Total assets	3,488	1,452
Interest rate swaps	6,910	9,787
Cross currency basis swaps	164,635	176,621
Foreign exchange forward contracts	684	1,435
Total liabilities	172,229	187,843
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Money market funds
Commodity contracts
Interest rate swaps
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Total assets
Interest rate swaps
Cross currency basis swaps
Foreign exchange forward contracts
Total liabilities

UNCERTAINTIES IN INCOME TAXES (Details) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
UNCERTAINTIES IN INCOME TAXES (Details) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)
Income Tax Uncertainties [Abstract]
Unrecognized tax benefits - final settlement and resolution	$ 1.0
Unrecognized tax benefits - expiration of statute of limitations	$ 1.2

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS (Details) SFr in Millions, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	May 09, 2010 USD ($)	May 07, 2010 USD ($)	Mar. 01, 2010 CHF (SFr)	Feb. 19, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2009 USD ($)
Financing Arrangements Abstract
Proceeds of Private Placement Note						$ 250.0
Private Placement Note fixed interest rate						4.10%
Average term maturity of private placement note, years						5
Final maturity of private placement note, years				3		6
Term loan facility with PNC Bank for Swiss francs \| SFr					SFr 65.0
Long-term debt current		$ 7.3					$ 82.2
Multi-currency revolving credit agreement			$ 500.0	$ 200.0
USD Commercial Paper facility reduction	$ 200.0
Fair value of long term debt		612.3					$ 469.3
Carrying value of long term debt		599.7
Private Placement Note		$ 250.0
Fixed interest rate		4.10%

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Oct. 09, 2009	Nov. 21, 2008
Commitments And Contingencies Abstract
Breach manufacturing and supply contract		$ 1.2
Past and future compensatory damages	$ 4.0
Punitive damages	$ 40.0

Label	Element	Value
Accumulated Translation Net Of Net Investment Hedges [Member] \| Net Investment Hedging [Member] \| Swap [Member] \| Cross Currency Contracts [Member]
Accumulated Translation Gains on Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries	xray_AccumulatedTranslationGainsOnInvestmentsInForeignSubsidiaries	$ 111,100,000
Accumulated Translation Gains on Investments in Foreign Subsidiaries	xray_AccumulatedTranslationGainsOnInvestmentsInForeignSubsidiaries	$ 66,100,000
Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Swap [Member] \| Swiss Francs, Swap [Member]
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate	4.20%
Notional Amount of Derivatives Years	xray_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesYears	7
Interest Rate Contracts [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedges [Member] \| Swap [Member] \| Japanese Yen, Swap [Member]
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate	us-gaap_DerivativeFixedInterestRate	1.60%
Notional Amount of Derivatives Years	xray_NotionalAmountOfDerivativesYears	10

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND DERIVATIVES (Cash flow hedges) (Details) - Cash Flow Hedges [Member] $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	$ (19,068)
Fair value net asset (liability)	2,526
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 11.7 million Australian dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	4,951
Fair value net asset (liability)	(532)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 5.5 million British pounds [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(3,250)
Fair value net asset (liability)	72
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 23.7 million Canadian dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	5,499
Fair value net asset (liability)	131
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 5.1 million Danish kroner [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	935
Fair value net asset (liability)	9
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 0.9 million euros [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(1,189)
Fair value net asset (liability)	640
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 9.7 million euros [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Fair value net asset (liability)	897
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 439.9 million Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	5,271
Fair value net asset (liability)	409
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 313.4 million Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Fair value net asset (liability)	401
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 115.1 million Mexican pesos [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	9,135
Fair value net asset (liability)	97
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 1.0 million Norwegian kroner [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(173)
Fair value net asset (liability)	(2)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 2.0 million Singapore dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,534
Fair value net asset (liability)	55
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 1.2 billion South Korean won [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,024
Fair value net asset (liability)	48
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 42.0 million Swiss francs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(42,805)
Fair value net asset (liability)	301
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	322
Fair value net asset (liability)	(6,738)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Euro [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	322
Fair value net asset (liability)	(817)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Fair value net asset (liability)	(2,400)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Swiss francs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Fair value net asset (liability)	(3,521)
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Commodity Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(309)
Fair value net asset (liability)	106
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Silver Swap US Dollar [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(254)
Fair value net asset (liability)	94
Maturity Year, 2010 [Member] \| Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Platinum Swap US Dollar [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(55)
Fair value net asset (liability)	12
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	25,449
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 11.7 million Australian dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	5,528
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 5.5 million British pounds [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(5,364)
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 23.7 million Canadian dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	15,887
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 5.1 million Danish kroner [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 0.9 million euros [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 9.7 million euros [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	13,154
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 439.9 million Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 313.4 million Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(3,756)
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 115.1 million Mexican pesos [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 1.0 million Norwegian kroner [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 2.0 million Singapore dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 1.2 billion South Korean won [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 42.0 million Swiss francs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,286
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Euro [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,286
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Swiss francs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Commodity Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(127)
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Silver Swap US Dollar [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	(127)
Maturity Year, 2011 [Member] \| Commodity Contracts [Member] \| Platinum Swap US Dollar [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	2,451
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 11.7 million Australian dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	786
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 5.5 million British pounds [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 23.7 million Canadian dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,665
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 5.1 million Danish kroner [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 0.9 million euros [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 9.7 million euros [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 439.9 million Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 313.4 million Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 115.1 million Mexican pesos [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 1.0 million Norwegian kroner [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 2.0 million Singapore dollars [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward sale, 1.2 billion South Korean won [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Foreign Exchange Forward Contracts [Member] \| Forward purchase, 42.0 million Swiss francs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	217,962
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Euro [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,286
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	150,410
Maturity Year, 2012 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Swiss francs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	66,266
Maturity Year, 2013 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,286
Maturity Year, 2013 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Euro [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	1,286
Maturity Year, 2013 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2013 [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Swiss francs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2014 and Beyond [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	4,180
Maturity Year, 2014 and Beyond [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Euro [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts	4,180
Maturity Year, 2014 and Beyond [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Japanese yen [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts
Maturity Year, 2014 and Beyond [Member] \| Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Swiss francs [Member]
Statement [Line Items]
Notional amounts