UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

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


                                    FORM 8-K

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


                            Date of Report May 3, 2006
                        (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)


   Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions:


_____ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
(17 CFR 230.425)

_____ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
CFR 240.14a-12)

_____ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

_____ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





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 May 3, 2006, the Company issued a press release disclosing its first
quarter 2006 sales and earnings. This earnings release references net sales
excluding precious metal content and net income excluding certain unusual items,
both of which could be considered measures not calculated in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP measures). 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.
Earnings from continuing operations excluding certain unusual items is presented
to enhance the comparability 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. First Quarter 2006 earnings release
         issued May 3, 2006 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/William R. Jellison
                                              William R. Jellison
                                              Senior Vice President and
                                              Chief Financial Officer

Date: May 3, 2006