DENTSPLY International Inc. Authorizes Increase in Stock Repurchase Program.

YORK, Pa. -- DENTSPLY International Inc. (Nasdaq:XRAY) today announced that its Board of Directors has increased the Company's authorization to repurchase shares under its stock repurchase program. Under the program, the Company may repurchase shares of Company stock on the open market or in negotiated transactions in an amount to maintain up to five and a half million (5,500,000) shares in Treasury. The Company currently has approximately two million nine hundred fifty thousand (2,950,000) shares of Treasury stock. The Company has approximately seventy-eight million (78,000,000) shares of common stock outstanding.

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; a 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.