CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS The Board of Directors DENTSPLY International Inc. We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statements (Nos. 33-61780, 33-52616, 33-41775, 33-71972, 33-79094 and 33-89786) on Form S-8 of DENTSPLY International Inc. of our report dated January 22, 1998, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of DENTSPLY International Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows and related schedule for each of the years in the three year period ended December 31, 1997, which report appears in the December 31, 1997 annual report on Form 10-K of DENTSPLY International Inc. KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Philadelphia, Pennsylvania March 27, 1998 252