<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL
INC. AT MARCH 31, 1999 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-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                  MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                        9108
<SECURITIES>                  0
<RECEIVABLES>                 133218
<ALLOWANCES>                  0
<INVENTORY>                   140639
<CURRENT-ASSETS>              322886
<PP&E>                        249967
<DEPRECIATION>                82871
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                875824
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>         196758
<BONDS>                       197571
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>         0
<PREFERRED>                   0
<COMMON>                      543
<OTHER-SE>                    415000
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>  875824
<SALES>                       196589
<TOTAL-REVENUES>              196589
<CGS>                         94960
<TOTAL-COSTS>                 94960
<OTHER-EXPENSES>              67320
<LOSS-PROVISION>              0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>            4573
<INCOME-PRETAX>               30411
<INCOME-TAX>                  10884
<INCOME-CONTINUING>           19527
<DISCONTINUED>                0
<EXTRAORDINARY>               0
<CHANGES>                     0
<NET-INCOME>                  19527
<EPS-PRIMARY>                 .37
<EPS-DILUTED>                 .37