FORM 8-K


                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



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                                CURRENT REPORT
                    Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                        Securities Exchange Act of 1934


                        Date of Report October 26, 2004
                       (Date of earliest event reported)


                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC
                (Exact name of Company as specified in charter)



                    Delaware             0-16211      39-1434669
              (State of Incorporation) (Commission  (IRS Employer
                                       File Number) Identification No.)




            221 West Philadelphia Street, York, Pennsylvania  17405
                (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)



                                (717) 845-7511
               (Company's telephone number including area code)













Item 2.02. - Results of Operations and Financial Condition

   The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 2.02, "Results of
Operations and Financial Condition."

   On October 26, 2004, the Company issued a press release disclosing its
third quarter 2004 sales and earnings. This earnings release references net
sales excluding precious metal content. Due to the fluctuations of precious
metal prices and because the precious metal content of the Company's sales is
largely a pass-through to customers and has minimal effect on earnings, the
Company reports sales both with and without precious metal content to show
the Company's performance independent of precious metal price volatility and
to enhance comparability of performance between periods. A copy of the
Company's press release is attached hereto as Exhibit (99.1) and is hereby
incorporated by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)  Financial Statements - Not applicable.

(b)  Exhibits:

     99.1 The Dentsply International Inc. third quarter 2004 sales and earnings
          release issued October 26, 2004 as referenced in Item 2.02.








SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC
                                                       (Company)



                                           /s/Bret W. Wise
                                              Bret W. Wise
                                              Senior Vice President and
                                              Chief Financial Officer

Date: October 26, 2004