DENTSPLY International Inc. third quarter net income up 46%.

YORK, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 21, 1996--DENTSPLY International Inc. (NASDAQ -XRAY) Monday announced that sales for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 1996 were $155.3 million, up 13.1% from $137.3 million in the year earlier quarter.

Net income was $13.9 million, up 46.4% from $9.5 million in the third quarter of 1995. Earnings per common share were 52 cents, an increase of 48.6% from 35 cents in 1995.

John C. Miles II, president and chief executive officer, said, "The significant growth in our sales and profits for the quarter resulted from strong demand both for our consumable and equipment product lines, especially in the United States."

For the nine months ended Sept. 30, 1996, sales increased 16.1% to $476.3 million from $410.3 million in the first nine months of 1995. Net income increased 30.7% to $46.6 million from $35.7 million in the year earlier period.

Earnings per common share for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 1996 of $1.73 were up 31.1% from $1.32 in the same period in 1995.

Miles added "We are very pleased with our performance through the first three quarters. We continue to focus on end-user demand, research and development, and acquisitions and remain very confident about a successful 1996."

The results for the nine months ended Sept. 30, 1995 included a one time charge of approximately $3.1 million ($1.8 million after tax, or 7 cents per share) to cover the costs of closing the company's executive offices in Illinois and consolidating its executive operations in York.

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 artificial teeth, endodontic instruments and materials, impression materials, prophylaxis paste, dental sealants, ultrasonic scalers, and crown and bridge materials; the leading United States manufacturer and distributor of dental x-ray equipment, dental handpieces, dental x-ray film holders and film mounts, and a leading United States distributor of dental cutting instruments and dental implants.

The company distributes its dental products in over 100 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. -0-

                        DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                   (in thousands, except per share data)

                 THREE MONTHS ENDED            NINE MONTHS ENDED
                     SEPT. 30,                      SEPT. 30,
                 -------------------           ------------------
                                 %                          %
                1996    1995   CHANGE      1996    1995   CHANGE
               ------  ------ --------    ------  ------  -------

Net sales   $155,327  $137,330  13.1%   $476,266  $410,313  16.1%

Cost of
 products
 sold         80,855    74,411   8.7%    243,226   210,796  15.4%
             --------  --------         --------  --------
Gross
 profit       74,472    62,919  18.4%    233,040   199,517  16.8%
% of
 net sales      47.9%     45.8%             48.9%     48.6%

Selling,
 general and
 administrative
 expense      49,773    45,577   9.2%    150,212   132,352  13.5%
             -------   -------           -------   -------

Operating
 income       24,699    17,342  42.4%     82,828    67,165  23.3%
% of
 net sales      15.9%     12.6%             17.4%     16.4%

Net interest
 and other
 expense       2,191     1,549  41.4%      5,789     7,888 (26.6)%
             -------   -------           -------   -------

Income before
 income taxes 22,508    15,793  42.5%     77,039    59,277  30.0%

Provision
 for income
 taxes         8,635     6,314  36.8%     30,409    23,589  28.9%
             -------   -------           -------   -------

Net income  $ 13,873  $  9,479  46.4%   $ 46,630  $ 35,688  30.7%
% of net
 sales           8.9%      6.9%              9.8%      8.7%

Earnings per
 common
 share         $0.52     $0.35  48.6%      $1.73     $1.32  31.1%
             =======   =======           =======   =======

Dividends per
 common
 share      $ 0.0825  $ 0.0750  10.0%   $ 0.2475  $ 0.2250  10.0%
             =======   =======           =======   =======

Weighted
 average
 common shares
 outstanding  26,892    27,001  (0.4)%    26,934    27,033  (0.4)%

CONTACT: DENTSPLY International Inc., York

Edward D. Yates, Sr. VP and CFO, 717/849-4243