Exhibit 99.1




                          CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                           18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                            AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Quarterly  Report of DENTSPLY  International  Inc. (the
"Company")  on Form 10-Q for the quarter  ending  March 31, 2003 as filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),  I,
John C.  Miles  II,  Chief  Executive  Officer  and  Chairman  of the Board of
Directors  of the Company,  certify,  pursuant to 18 U.S.C.  1350,  as adopted
pursuant to Section 906 of the  Sarbanes-Oxley  Act of 2002, that, to the best
of my knowledge and belief:

(1)   The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of Sections  13(a) or
      15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

(2)   The  information  contained  in  the  Report  fairly  presents,  in  all
      material   respects,   the   financial   condition  and  result  of
      operations of the Company as of the date of the Report.


/s/ John C. Miles II
John C. Miles II
Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board of Directors

May 13, 2003