Legal Proceedings Legal (Details)						3 Months Ended
	Mar. 15, 2019 defendants subsidiary	Oct. 01, 2018 USD ($)	Aug. 28, 2018 USD ($)	Jul. 12, 2018 defendants	Feb. 12, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 26, 2019 USD ($)	Apr. 27, 2019 states
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement expenses						$ 58,300
Damages sought					$ 0
Number of states | states							50
Class Action Complaints Against Henry Schein Inc., Benco Dental Supply Company And Patterson Companies, Inc.
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement expenses						17,666,000
Litigation settlement reserve						28,263,000
U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District Of Virginia
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Litigation settlement reserve						58,300,000
Amount of criminal fine and forfeiture under terms of agreement						$ 52,800,000
Kirsten Johnsen V. Scott P Anderson Et Al
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Stock repurchased		$ 412,800,000	$ 412,800,000
National Prescription Opiate Litigation, MDL No. 2804
Loss Contingencies [Line Items]
Number of defendants | defendants	67			26
Number of subsidiaries | subsidiary	2