FORM 8-K


                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                      WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549



          ----------------------------------------------


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


                  Date of Report January 27, 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 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)  Financial Statements - Not applicable.

(b)  Exhibits:

     99.1 The Dentsply International Inc. fourth quarter 2003 sales
          and earnings release issued January 27, 2004 as referenced
          in Item 12.

Item 12. - Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition

   The following information is furnished pursuant to Item 12,
"Disclosure of Results of Operations and Financial Condition."

   On January 27, 2004, the Company issued a press release
disclosing its fourth quarter 2003 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 metals 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.






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: January 28, 2004