SEGMENT INFORMATION Segment Operating Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	$ 105,021		$ 88,666		$ 321,745		$ 284,732
Restructuring and other costs	2,231		15,097		5,065		18,862
Interest expense	11,442		13,948		38,170		44,053
Interest income	(2,138)		(2,342)		(6,556)		(6,204)
Other expense (income), net	1,581		1,279		8,723		2,324
Income before income taxes	94,136		75,781		281,408		244,559
Operating Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	107,252		103,763		326,810		303,594
Operating Segments [Member] | Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	62,575		58,975		183,508		181,261
Operating Segments [Member] | Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	1,901		4,678		8,792		7,639
Operating Segments [Member] | Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	833		(790)		(1,463)		(3,250)
Operating Segments [Member] | Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	65,211		65,546		213,972		214,333
Operating Segments [Member] | All Other
Segment Reporting, Reconciling Item for Operating Profit (Loss) from Segment to Consolidated [Line Items]
Segment operating income	$ (23,268)	[1]	$ (24,646)	[1]	$ (77,999)	[1]	$ (96,389)	[1]

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