<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> NATIONAL DENTEX CORPORATION FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 1996 (Unaudited) and the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 (Unaudited) and is qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements. </LEGEND> <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 4,500,414 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 6,407,916 <ALLOWANCES> 207,000 <INVENTORY> 2,855,890 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 14,949,167 <PP&E> 13,711,934 <DEPRECIATION> 7,182,891 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 29,897,241 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 5,369,294 <BONDS> 0 <COMMON> 34,401 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <OTHER-SE> 23,134,834 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 29,897,241 <SALES> 39,041,261 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 39,041,261 <CGS> 22,160,984 <TOTAL-COSTS> 12,378,139 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> (90,559) <INCOME-PRETAX> 4,705,586 <INCOME-TAX> 1,863,000 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,842,586 <EPS-PRIMARY> .81 <EPS-DILUTED> .81