SEGMENT INFORMATION Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 5,009,979		$ 4,972,297
Operating Segments [Member] | Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	879,460		1,007,307
Operating Segments [Member] | Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	306,699		294,348
Operating Segments [Member] | Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	183,987		192,684
Operating Segments [Member] | Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	3,424,913		3,195,382
Operating Segments [Member] | All Other
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item [Line Items]
Assets	$ 214,920	[1]	$ 282,576	[1]

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