CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Total	Common Stock	Capital in Excess of Par Value	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Treasury Stock	Total DENTSPLY International Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 1,884,151	$ 1,628	$ 229,687	$ 2,535,709	$ (190,970)	$ (727,977)	$ 1,848,077	$ 36,074
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	136,269			134,049			134,049	2,220
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(13,606)				(12,742)		(12,742)	(864)
Exercise of stock options	20,066		(7,158)			27,224	20,066
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	5,163		5,163				5,163
Share based compensation expense	11,029		11,029				11,029
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	3,642		370			3,272	3,642
Treasury shares purchased	(38,840)					(38,840)	(38,840)
RSU distributions	(3,276)		(8,344)			5,068	(3,276)
RSU dividends			115	(115)
Cash dividends ($0.125 in 2013, $0.110 in 2012 per share)	(15,599)			(15,599)			(15,599)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2012	1,988,999	1,628	230,862	2,654,044	(203,712)	(731,253)	1,951,569	37,430
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	2,249,443	1,628	246,548	2,818,461	(144,200)	(713,739)	2,208,698	40,745
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	161,264			158,913			158,913	2,351
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(79,173)				(79,022)		(79,022)	(151)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(8,960)		(3,926)				(3,926)	(5,034)
Exercise of stock options	31,213		(3,937)			35,150	31,213
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	1,122		1,122				1,122
Share based compensation expense	12,023		12,023				12,023
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	4,657		959			3,698	4,657
Treasury shares purchased	(62,278)					(62,278)	(62,278)
RSU distributions	(3,383)		(8,342)			4,959	(3,383)
RSU dividends			151	(151)
Cash dividends ($0.125 in 2013, $0.110 in 2012 per share)	(17,832)			(17,832)			(17,832)
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	$ 2,288,096	$ 1,628	$ 244,598	$ 2,959,391	$ (223,222)	$ (732,210)	$ 2,250,185	$ 37,911