DENTSPLY International Announces Executive Retirement and Promotion.

YORK, Pa. -- DENTSPLY International Inc., (NASDAQ:XRAY) today announced that Mr. Thomas L. Whiting, 62, current President and Chief Operating Officer, has indicated his intention to retire effective December 31, 2005. Mr. Bret W. Wise, 45, current Executive Vice President, will assume the position of President and Chief Operating Officer effective January 1, 2006.

Mr. Gary K. Kunkle, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "DENTSPLY wishes Tom Whiting well in retirement and remains indebted to him for his capable leadership and excellent business acumen. Going forward, we are pleased to promote Bret Wise to this position as his comprehensive financial and management experience and talents bode well for our continued success."

Mr. Thomas L. Whiting was appointed President and Chief Operating Officer in January, 2004 and has been a valuable contributor to the Company's strategic planning and overall direction. He was appointed Executive Vice President in November, 2002, broadening his responsibilities in preparation for future assignments.

In 1994 Mr. Whiting was appointed Senior Vice President, with responsibilities for Latin America and the Pacific Rim. From 1994 until 2002, his responsibilities covered nearly every business and geographic area within which the Company operates. During this time, he developed and refined the country infrastructure of the Asian businesses and supervised the construction of the DENTSPLY manufacturing facilities in both India and China. In addition, he successfully managed the endodontic franchise, an important segment of the business as DENTSPLY is now the world's largest manufacturer and distributor of endodontic instruments and materials.

He joined the Company in March, 1987 as Vice President and General Manager of the Caulk dental consumables division. Under his direction, the division became the dominant dental consumables company in the United States.

Mr. Whiting holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI. He is an active member of the Dental Trade Alliance and served as Chair of the 2004 Annual Meeting Program Committee. He and his wife Char have two children and make their home in York, PA.

Mr. Bret W. Wise was appointed Executive Vice President in January of this year. At that time, he assumed responsibility for two of the four operating senior vice president positions with primary focus in North America and Europe, as well as business development and the research and development function. He has been an outstanding executive performer and an important contributor to the growth and strategic direction of the business.

He joined DENTSPLY in November, 2002 as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this position, he proved to be a capable leader in working with the Company's operating groups in both strategic finance and operating matters, as well as enhancing the Company's financial accounting and disclosure controls in response to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Mr. Wise came to the Company following a very successful career with the Ferro Corporation of Cleveland, OH, where he served as senior vice president and CFO. Prior to this, he held an executive position with WCI Steel, Inc., of Warren, OH, and was formerly a partner with KPMG.

A Certified Public Accountant, Mr. Wise earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from the Indiana University School of Business in Bloomington, IN. He and his wife June have three children and reside in Lancaster, PA.

DENTSPLY designs, develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of products for the dental market. The Company believes that it is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of dental prosthetics, precious metal dental alloys, dental ceramics, endodontic instruments and materials, prophylaxis paste, dental sealants, ultrasonic scalers, and crown and bridge materials; the leading United States manufacturer and distributor of dental handpieces, dental x-ray film holders, film mounts and bone substitute/grafting materials; and a leading worldwide manufacturer or distributor of dental injectible anesthetics, impression materials, orthodontic appliances, dental cutting instruments and dental implants. The Company distributes its dental products in over 120 countries under some of the most well established brand names in the industry.

DENTSPLY is committed to the development of innovative, high quality, cost-effective new products for the dental market.