<ARTICLE>                          5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL
INC. AT MARCH 31, 2000 AND FOR THE FISCAL QUARTER THEN ENDED, AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<CIK>                              0000818479
<NAME>                             DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL
<MULTIPLIER>                       1000

                                
<PERIOD-TYPE>                      3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                  DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-START>                     JAN-01-2000
<PERIOD-END>                       MAR-31-2000
<CASH>                             7298
<SECURITIES>                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                      124899
<ALLOWANCES>                       0
<INVENTORY>                        136497
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                   307569
<PP&E>                             268715
<DEPRECIATION>                     91254
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                     843558
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>              176702
<BONDS>                            134162
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>              0
<PREFERRED>                        0
<COMMON>                           543
<OTHER-SE>                         464008
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>       843558
<SALES>                            212530
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                   212530
<CGS>                              102013
<TOTAL-COSTS>                      102013
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                   73777
<LOSS-PROVISION>                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                 3000
<INCOME-PRETAX>                    34106
<INCOME-TAX>                       11913
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                22193
<DISCONTINUED>                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                    0
<CHANGES>                          0
<NET-INCOME>                       22193
<EPS-BASIC>                      0.42
<EPS-DILUTED>                      0.42