EXHIBIT 5.1


                           MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP
                                ONE OXFORD CENTRE
                            PITTSBURGH, PA 15219-1417


June 3, 1998

DENTSPLY International Inc.
570 West College Avenue
York, Pennsylvania  17405-0872

Re:  Form S-8 Registration Statement Relating to the DENTSPLY
     International Inc.
     1998 Stock Option Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As your counsel, we have assisted in the preparation of the above-referenced
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") for filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "Act"), and the rules and the regulations thereunder.

The Registration Statement relates to 4,300,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par
value per share (the "Common Stock"), of DENTSPLY International Inc. (the
"Company") which will be issued pursuant to the DENTSPLY International Inc. 1998
Stock Option Plan (the "Plan"). We have examined the Company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's By-Laws, as amended, minutes and
such other documents, and have made such inquiries of the Company's officers, as
we deemed appropriate. In our examination, we have assumed the genuiness of all
signatures, the authenticity of all items submitted to us as originals, and the
conformity with originals of all items submitted to us as copies.

Based upon the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Company's Common Stock
originally issued by the Company to eligible participants through the Plan, when
issued and delivered as contemplated by the Plan, will be validly issued,
fully-paid and non-assessable.

We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration
Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are acting
within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the
Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
thereunder.

Very truly yours,

MORGAN, LEWIS & BOCKIUS LLP

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