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, 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
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(79,173)				(79,022)		(79,022)	(151)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	2,351							2,351
Net income attributable to DENTSPLY International	158,913			158,913			158,913
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 ($0.1325 in 2014, $0.1250 in 2013 per share)	(17,832)			(17,832)			(17,832)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent		1,628	244,598	2,959,391	(223,222)	(732,210)	2,250,185
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest								37,911
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2013	2,288,096
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	2,577,974	1,628	255,272	3,095,721	(69,062)	(748,506)	2,535,053	42,921
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	162,934
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(29,140)				(23,407)		(23,407)	(203)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax excluding Acquisition of NCI	(23,610)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	63
Net income attributable to DENTSPLY International	162,871						162,871
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest	(87,283)		(40,283)		(5,530)		(45,813)	(41,470)
Exercise of stock options	12,736		(2,204)			14,940	12,736
Tax benefit from stock options exercised	349		349				349
Share based compensation expense	13,358		13,358				13,358
Funding of Employee Stock Ownership Plan	5,953		1,535			4,418	5,953
Treasury shares purchased	(54,586)					(54,586)	(54,586)
RSU distributions	(4,264)		(10,917)			6,653	(4,264)
RSU dividends			(164)	(164)
Cash dividends ($0.1325 in 2014, $0.1250 in 2013 per share)	(18,787)			(18,787)			(18,787)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	2,583,463	1,628	217,274	3,239,641	(97,999)	(777,081)	2,583,463
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	1,311							1,311
Ending Balance at Jun. 30, 2014	$ 2,584,774