RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER COSTS Provisions and Adjustments and Amounts Applied for All Plans by Segment (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	$ 7,198
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	14,475
Amounts applied	(11,370)
Ending Balance	8,272
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(2,031)
Dental Consumable and Laboratrory Businesses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	1,140
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	9,132
Amounts applied	(3,780)
Ending Balance	4,671
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(1,821)
Orthodontics/Canada/Mexico/Japan [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	164
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	361
Amounts applied	(415)
Ending Balance	106
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	4
Select Distribution Businesses [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	331
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	222
Amounts applied	(264)
Ending Balance	289
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	0
Implants/Endodontics/Healthcare/Pacific Rim [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	5,563
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	4,760
Amounts applied	(6,911)
Ending Balance	3,206
Implants Endodontics Healthcare Pacific Rim Segments [Member]
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	206
Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	3,612
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	12,907
Amounts applied	(7,931)
Ending Balance	6,605
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(1,983)
Restructuring Fiscal 2012 Plan [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	856
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	11,412
Amounts applied	(6,202)
Ending Balance	4,107
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	(1,959)
Restructuring Fiscal 2013 Plans [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	2,756
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0
Amounts applied	(856)
Ending Balance	1,900
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	0
Restructuring Fiscal 2011 And Prior Plans [Member] | Employee Severance [Member]
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring Charges	0
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	1,495
Amounts applied	(873)
Ending Balance	598
Restructuring Reserve, Accrual Adjustment	$ 24