DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC /DE/
DEF 14A, 1999-04-16
DENTAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES
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<PAGE>   1
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
                   PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a)
                     OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>      <C>
Filed by the Registrant                                 [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant              [ ]
Check the appropriate box:                     [ ]      Preliminary Proxy Statement
                                               [ ]      Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only
                                                        (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
                                               [X]      Definitive Proxy Statement
                                               [ ]      Definitive Additional Materials
                                               [ ]      Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c)
                                                        or Rule 14a-12
</TABLE>
 
                          DENTSPLY International Inc.
              ----------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
<TABLE>
       <S>      <C>     <C>
       [X]      No fee required
       [ ]      Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and
                0-11.
                (1)     Title of each class of securities to which transaction
                        applies:
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
                (2)     Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
                (3)     Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
                        computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the
                        amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how
                        it was determined):
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
                (4)     Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
                (5)     Total fee paid:
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
       [ ]      Fee paid previously with preliminary materials
       [ ]      Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange
                Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting
                fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
                registration statement number, or the form or schedule and the date
                of its filing:
                (1)     Amount Previously Paid:
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
                (2)     Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.:
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
                (3)     Filing Party:
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
                (4)     Date Filed:
                        ------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   2
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[DENTSPLY LOGO]                                DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL
                                               570 West College Avenue
                                               P.O. Box 872
                                               York, PA 17405-0872
                                               (717) 845-7511
                                               Fax (717) 854-2343


 
                                 April 15, 1999
 
Dear DENTSPLY Stockholder:
 
     You are cordially invited to attend the 1999 Annual Meeting of Stockholders
to be held on Wednesday, May 19, 1999, at 9:30 a.m., at the Company's Employee
Meeting Room in York, Pennsylvania.
 
     The Annual Meeting will include voting on the matters described in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, a report on Company
operations and discussion.
 
     Whether or not you plan to attend, you can ensure that your shares are
represented at the Annual Meeting by promptly completing, signing, dating and
returning the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided.
 
                                        Sincerely,



                                        /s/ John C. Miles II
                                        --------------------------
                                        John C. Miles II
                                        Chairman of the Board and
                                          Chief Executive Officer
 
<PAGE>   3
 
                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                            570 WEST COLLEGE AVENUE
                         YORK, PENNSYLVANIA 17405-0872
 
                            ------------------------
 
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                     TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1999
 
                            ------------------------
 
     The Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") of DENTSPLY
International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), will be held on
Wednesday, May 19, 1999, at 9:30 a.m., local time, at the Company's Employee
Meeting Room, 570 West College Avenue, York, Pennsylvania, for the following
purposes:
 
          1. To elect three Class I directors to serve for a term of three years
     and until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified;
 
          2. To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP, independent certified public
     accountants, to audit the books and accounts of the Company for the year
     ending December 31, 1999; and
 
          3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the
     Annual Meeting and any and all adjournments and postponements thereof.
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 1, 1999 as
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof.
 
     The enclosed proxy is solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Reference is made to the accompanying Proxy Statement for further information
with respect to the business to be transacted at the Annual Meeting.
 
     A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting
will be available during ordinary business hours for examination by any
stockholder, for any purpose germane to the Annual Meeting, for a period of at
least ten days prior to the Annual Meeting, at the office of the Secretary of
the Company, 570 West College Avenue, York, Pennsylvania.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGES YOU TO COMPLETE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD PROMPTLY. YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL
MEETING IN PERSON. THE RETURN OF THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD WILL NOT AFFECT YOUR
RIGHT TO REVOKE YOUR PROXY OR TO VOTE IN PERSON IF YOU DO ATTEND THE ANNUAL
MEETING.
 
                                           BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
                                                     BRIAN M. ADDISON
                                              Vice President, Secretary and
                                                     General Counsel
 
York, Pennsylvania
April 15, 1999
 
             YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT, NO MATTER HOW MANY SHARES YOU
                           OWNED ON THE RECORD DATE.
 
PLEASE INDICATE YOUR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD, DATE AND
SIGN IT, AND RETURN IT IN THE ENVELOPE PROVIDED, WHICH IS ADDRESSED FOR YOUR
CONVENIENCE AND NEEDS NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES. IN ORDER TO
AVOID THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE COMPANY OF FURTHER SOLICITATION, WE ASK YOUR
COOPERATION IN MAILING YOUR PROXY PROMPTLY.
<PAGE>   4
 
                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                            570 WEST COLLEGE AVENUE
                         YORK, PENNSYLVANIA 17405-0872
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
 
                            ------------------------
 
                              GENERAL INFORMATION
 
     This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of
proxies by the Board of Directors of DENTSPLY International Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("DENTSPLY" or the "Company"), for use at the Company's 1999 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders (together with any and all adjournments and
postponements thereof, the "Annual Meeting") to be held on Wednesday, May 19,
1999, at 9:30 a.m., local time, at the Company's Employee Meeting Room, 570 West
College Avenue, York, Pennsylvania, for the purposes set forth in the
accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This Proxy Statement,
together with the foregoing Notice and the enclosed proxy card, are first being
sent to stockholders on or about April 15, 1999.
 
     The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on April 1, 1999 as
the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and
to vote at the Annual Meeting. On the record date, there were 52,590,738 shares
of Common Stock of the Company, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"),
outstanding and entitled to vote. Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one
vote per share on each matter properly brought before the Annual Meeting. Shares
can be voted at the Annual Meeting only if the stockholder is present in person
or is represented by proxy. The presence, in person or by proxy, at the Annual
Meeting of shares of Common Stock representing at least a majority of the total
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the record date will constitute
a quorum for purposes of the Annual Meeting.
 
     Whether or not you are able to attend the Annual Meeting, you are urged to
complete and return the enclosed proxy, which is solicited by the Company's
Board of Directors and which will be voted as you direct on your proxy when
properly executed. In the absence of instructions, shares represented by
executed proxies will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors.
 
     Any proxy may be revoked at any time prior to its exercise by attending the
Annual Meeting and voting in person, by notifying the Secretary of the Company
of such revocation in writing or by delivering a duly executed proxy bearing a
later date, provided that such notice or proxy is actually received by the
Company prior to the taking of any vote at the Annual Meeting.
 
     The cost of solicitation of proxies for use at the Annual Meeting will be
borne by the Company. Solicitations will be made primarily by mail or by
facsimile, but employees or agents of the Company may solicit proxies personally
or by telephone.
 
     Brokers, banks and other nominee holders will be requested to obtain voting
instructions of beneficial owners of stock registered in their names. Shares
represented by a duly completed proxy submitted by a nominee holder on behalf of
beneficial owners will be counted for quorum purposes, and will be voted to the
extent instructed by the nominee holder on the proxy card. The rules applicable
to a nominee holder may preclude it from voting the shares that it holds on
certain kinds of proposals unless it receives voting instructions from the
beneficial owners of the shares (sometimes referred to as "broker non-votes").
<PAGE>   5
 
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws of the Company
provide that the number of directors (which is to be not less than three) is to
be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. The
Board is currently comprised of nine persons.
 
     Pursuant to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the
members of the Board of Directors are divided into three classes. Each class is
to consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the whole number of
members of the Board. The term of the Class I directors expires at the Annual
Meeting. The terms of the Class II and Class III directors will expire at the
2000 and 2001 Annual Meetings of Stockholders, respectively. At each Annual
Meeting, the directors elected to succeed those whose terms expire are of the
same class as the directors they succeed and are elected for a term to expire at
the third Annual Meeting of Stockholders after their election and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. A director elected to fill a vacancy
is elected to the same class as the director he succeeds, and a director elected
to fill a newly created directorship holds office until the next election of the
class to which such director is elected.
 
     The three incumbent Class I directors are nominees for election this year
for a three-year term expiring at the 2002 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. In
the election, the three persons who receive the highest number of votes actually
cast will be elected. The proxy named in the proxy card intends to vote for the
election of the three Class I nominees listed below unless otherwise instructed.
If a holder does not wish his or her shares to be voted for a particular
nominee, the holder must identify the exception in the appropriate space
provided on the proxy card, in which event the shares will be voted for the
other listed nominees. If any nominee becomes unable to serve, the proxy may
vote for another person designated by the Board of Directors or the Board may
reduce the number of directors. The Company has no reason to believe that any
nominee will be unable to serve.
 
     The Company's By-Laws require that stockholders seeking to nominate persons
for election to the Board, or to propose other business to be brought before an
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, comply with certain procedures. See "Stockholder
Proposals for 2000 Proxy Statement".
 
     Set forth below is certain information with regard to each of the nominees
for election as Class I directors and each continuing Class II and Class III
director.
 
                   NOMINEES FOR ELECTION AS CLASS I DIRECTORS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME AND AGE                          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND DIRECTORSHIPS
               ------------                          --------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>
Burton C. Borgelt.........................  Mr. Borgelt has been retired since May 1996. He was
     Age 66                                 named Chief Executive Officer of the Company on February
                                            8, 1995 and served in that capacity until December 31,
                                            1995. Mr. Borgelt served as Chairman of the Board of the
                                            Company from the merger (the "Merger") of Dentsply
                                            International Inc. ("Old Dentsply") and GENDEX
                                            Corporation on June 11, 1993 until May 1996; he has
                                            served as a director of the Company since the Merger.
                                            Prior to the Merger, Mr. Borgelt served as Chairman of
                                            the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Old Dentsply.
                                            Mr. Borgelt also serves as a director of Mellon Bank
                                            Corporation, Mellon Bank N.A. and De Vlieg Bullard, Inc.
Douglas K. Chapman........................  Mr. Chapman has been retired since March 1993. From
     Age 71                                 January 1978 to March 1993, he was Chairman and a
                                            director of ACCO World Corporation, a company involved
                                            in the manufacture and sale of office products, and from
                                            January 1987 to December 1990, he was also the Chief
                                            Executive Officer of ACCO World Corporation. Mr. Chapman
                                            has served as a director of the Company since the Merger
                                            and prior thereto served as a director of Old Dentsply.
</TABLE>
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   6
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME AND AGE                          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND DIRECTORSHIPS
               ------------                          --------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>
C. Frederick Fetterolf....................  Mr. Fetterolf has been retired since August 1991. In
     Age 70                                 February 1983, he was elected a director and President
                                            of Alcoa, an aluminum and alumina producer, and was
                                            appointed Chief Operating Officer of Alcoa in April
                                            1985. He currently serves as a director of Allegheny
                                            Teledyne Incorporated, Mellon Bank Corporation, Union
                                            Carbide Corporation, Praxair Inc., Commonwealth
                                            Industries Inc., and Pennzoil-Quaker State Company. Mr.
                                            Fetterolf has been a director of the Company since
                                            December 1995.
</TABLE>
 
                   DIRECTORS CONTINUING AS CLASS II DIRECTORS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME AND AGE                          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND DIRECTORSHIPS
               ------------                          --------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>
Leslie A. Jones...........................  Mr. Jones served as Chairman of the Board of the Company
     Age 59                                 from May 1996 to May 1998. He has been Chairman and a
                                            director of OBOS Inc., a manufacturer of communication
                                            devices, since August 1993. From 1992 until August 1993
                                            he was a private investor. From January 1991 to January
                                            1992, he was a Senior Vice President and Special
                                            Assistant to the President of Old Dentsply. Prior to
                                            that time, Mr. Jones served as Old Dentsply's Senior
                                            Vice President of North American Operations. Mr. Jones
                                            has served as a director of the Company since the
                                            Merger, and prior thereto served as a director of Old
                                            Dentsply.
Edgar H. Schollmaier......................  Mr. Schollmaier is non-executive Chairman of Alcon
     Age 65                                 Laboratories of Fort Worth, Texas, a wholly owned
                                            subsidiary of Nestle S.A. He held the position of
                                            President of Alcon from 1972 to 1997 and was Chief
                                            Executive for the last twenty years of that term. He
                                            also serves as a director of Stevens International, Inc.
                                            and Intercardia, Inc. Mr. Schollmaier has served as a
                                            director of the Company since June 1996.
</TABLE>
 
                  DIRECTORS CONTINUING AS CLASS III DIRECTORS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME AND AGE                          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND DIRECTORSHIPS
               ------------                          --------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>
Michael J. Coleman........................  Mr. Coleman is the President of Cape Publications and
     Age 55                                 publisher of FLORIDA TODAY, Melbourne, Florida, and has
                                            been the President of the South Regional Newspapers
                                            Group since 1991. From July 1986 to May 1991, Mr.
                                            Coleman was the President and publisher of the ROCKFORD
                                            REGISTER STAR. Mr. Coleman is a member of the National
                                            Newspaper Association and the American Society of
                                            Newspaper Editors. Mr. Coleman has served as a director
                                            of the Company since 1991.
</TABLE>
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   7
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               NAME AND AGE                          PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION AND DIRECTORSHIPS
               ------------                          --------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>
Arthur A. Dugoni, D.D.S., M.S.D...........  Dr. Dugoni has been Dean and Professor of Orthodontics
     Age 73                                 at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry
                                            since 1978. He is a past President of the American
                                            Association of Dental Schools, and has served as
                                            President (1988), Treasurer (1987) and a member of the
                                            Board of Trustees (1989 to 1990) of the American Dental
                                            Association. Since 1992, Dr. Dugoni has been Treasurer
                                            of the Federation Dentaire Internationale, an
                                            international organization representing over 100
                                            countries in the areas of oral health and education.
                                            From 1990 to 1993, he was Director of the American Fund
                                            for Dental Health, a foundation that raises money to
                                            improve public health and the quality of dental
                                            education. Dr. Dugoni has served as a director of the
                                            Company since 1993.
John C. Miles II..........................  Mr. Miles assumed responsibility as Chairman of the
     Age 57                                 Board on May 20, 1998 and served as Vice Chairman of the
                                            Board from January 1, 1997. He was named Chief Executive
                                            Officer of the Company on January 1, 1996. Prior to that
                                            he was President and Chief Operating Officer and a
                                            director of the Company since the Merger. Prior to that
                                            time he served as President and Chief Operating Officer
                                            and a director of Old Dentsply.
W. Keith Smith............................  Mr. Smith has been retired since December 31, 1998. He
     Age 64                                 served as Vice Chairman of Mellon Bank Corporation and
                                            Mellon Bank N.A. from July 1987 until December 31, 1998.
                                            He also has served as Chairman and Chief Executive
                                            Officer of The Boston Company and Boston Safe Deposit &
                                            Trust Company since May 1993. In addition, from August
                                            1994 until January 1995, he served as Chief Operating
                                            Officer of The Dreyfus Corporation, and subsequent to
                                            January 1995 he served as Chairman of the Board of The
                                            Dreyfus Corporation as well as Chairman of Buck
                                            Consultants, Inc. He currently serves as a director for
                                            Biomax Technologies Inc. and has served as a director of
                                            the Company since the Merger and prior thereto served as
                                            a director of Old Dentsply.
</TABLE>
 
VOTES REQUIRED
 
     The Class I directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes of shares
present and entitled to vote. Accordingly, the three nominees for election as
directors who receive the highest number of votes actually cast will be elected.
Broker non-votes will be treated as shares that neither are capable of being
voted nor have been voted and, accordingly, will have no effect on the outcome
of the election of directors.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE NOMINEES
                       FOR ELECTION AS CLASS I DIRECTORS.
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND COMMITTEES.
 
     The Company's Board of Directors met six times during 1998. The Board has
an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Board Governance Committee and a
Human Resources Committee which has a Stock Options Subcommittee. The
composition and activities of the Committees are described below.
 
     The Executive Committee provides guidance to the executive officers of the
Company between meetings of the Board. The members of the Executive Committee
are Messrs. Jones (Chairman), Borgelt, Miles and Chapman. The Executive
Committee held one meeting during 1998.
 
     The Audit Committee is responsible for nominating the Company's independent
auditors for approval by the Board; reviewing the scope, results and costs of
the audit with the Company's independent auditors;
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   8
 
reviewing the financial statements of the Company and the audit function to
ensure compliance with requirements of regulatory agencies and appropriate
disclosure of necessary information to the stockholders of the Company; and
monitoring and providing guidance on the Company's information technology
activities. The members of the Audit Committee are Messrs. Schollmaier
(Chairman), Jones and Chapman. The Audit Committee held four meetings during
1998.
 
     The Board Governance Committee is responsible for identifying and
recommending individuals to serve on the Board, reviewing and recommending Board
policies and appraising the performance of the Board. The members of this
Committee are Messrs. Jones (Chairman), Miles and Smith. The Board Governance
Committee held no meetings during 1998.
 
     The Human Resources Committee is responsible for evaluating and
administering compensation levels for all officers of the Company. Its members
are Mr. Coleman (Chairman), Dr. Dugoni, Messrs. Fetterolf and Borgelt. The Human
Resources Committee met four times during 1998. The Stock Option Subcommittee
was created at the March 23, 1998 meeting of the Board of Directors and is
responsible for administering the Company's Stock Option Plans. Its members are
Mr. Coleman (Chairman), Dr. Dugoni and Mr. Fetterolf.
 
     No director, except Mr. Coleman, attended fewer than 75% of the total
number of meetings of the Board and the meetings of any committee of the Board
on which a director served during the year ended December 31, 1998.
 
        RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS
 
     The Board of Directors has selected KPMG LLP to serve as the Company's
principal auditors for the year ending December 31, 1999. In the event the
appointment of KPMG LLP for 1999 is ratified, it is expected that KPMG LLP will
also audit the books and accounts of certain subsidiaries of the Company at the
close of their current fiscal years. In the event the appointment of KPMG LLP
for 1999 is not ratified, the Board of Directors will reconsider the
appointment. A representative of KPMG LLP will be present at the Annual Meeting
and will have the opportunity to make a statement, if such person desires to do
so, and to respond to appropriate questions.
 
     The proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP will be approved by the
stockholders if it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on
the proposal. If a proxy card is specifically marked as abstaining from voting
on the proposal, the abstention will have the effect of a vote against the
proposal even though the shares represented thereby will not be counted as
having been voted for or against the proposal. Broker non-votes will be treated
as shares not capable of being voted on the proposal and, accordingly, will have
no effect on the outcome of voting on the proposal.
 
     THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR RATIFICATION
             OF THE SELECTION OF KPMG LLP AS INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   9
 
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
SUMMARY COMPENSATION
 
     The following table sets forth the compensation earned by the Company's
Chief Executive Officer and the four other highest-paid executive officers of
the Company whose salary and bonus for the year ended December 31, 1998 were in
excess of $100,000 (collectively, the "named executive officers") for each of
the last three fiscal years.
 
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    ANNUAL COMPENSATION                   LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
                         ------------------------------------------   -------------------------------
                                                                             AWARDS           PAYOUTS
                                                                      ---------------------   -------
                                                                      RESTRICTED                        ALL OTHER
                                                      OTHER ANNUAL      STOCK      OPTIONS/    LTIP      COMPEN-
       NAME AND                  SALARY     BONUS     COMPENSATION     AWARD(S)      SARS     PAYOUTS    SATION
  PRINCIPAL POSITION     YEAR     ($)        ($)           ($)           ($)         (#)        ($)        ($)
  ------------------     ----   --------   --------   -------------   ----------   --------   -------   ---------
<S>                      <C>    <C>        <C>        <C>             <C>          <C>        <C>       <C>
John C. Miles II         1998   $550,000   $282,800        --             --        94,700      --        3,021(1)
  Chairman of the Board  1997    550,000    336,600        --             --        75,000      --        4,000(1)
  and Chief Executive    1996    500,000    312,000        --             --        52,600      --        3,285(1)
  Officer(2)
Gerald K. Kunkle         1998    335,000    172,300        --             --        56,000      --        3,021(1)
  President and Chief    1997    325,000    198,900        --             --        63,400      --        4,000(1)
  Operating Officer
W. William Weston        1998    257,699    118,002        --             --        27,500      --       29,157(4)
  Senior Vice            1997    239,331    146,096        --             --        17,400      --       34,110(4)
  President(3)           1996    266,130    164,078        --             --         7,200      --       21,041(4)
Michael R. Crane         1998    226,500     53,400        --             --        27,500      --        3,021(1)
  Senior Vice President  1997    221,000    120,200        --             --        17,400      --        4,000(1)
                         1996    213,000    116,300        --             --         7,800      --        3,285(1)
Thomas L. Whiting        1998    217,000    113,300        --             --        27,500      --        3,021(1)
  Senior Vice President  1997    206,000    125,800        --             --        17,400      --        4,000(1)
                         1996    195,000    113,500        --             --        17,600      --        3,285(1)
</TABLE>
 
(1) Amounts contributed to The DENTSPLY International Inc. Employee Stock
    Ownership Plan (the "Company ESOP"). Under the Internal Revenue Code of
    1986, as amended (the "Internal Revenue Code"), the maximum amount that can
    be contributed annually to the Company ESOP in respect of any employee is
    generally an amount equal to the lesser of $30,000 or 25% of such employee's
    covered compensation.
 
(2) In May 1998, Mr. Miles assumed responsibility as Chairman of the Board. In
    January 1997, Mr. Miles became Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, at
    which time Gerald K. Kunkle was named President and Chief Operating Officer.
 
(3) Includes compensation for overseas assignment.
 
(4) Includes compensation of $17,260, $17,427 and $4,342 for the tax effect of
    the company car which is treated as a benefit in kind and contributions to
    the Company's German pension plan of $11,897, $16,683 and $16,699, in 1998,
    1997 and 1996, respectively. The German pension plan is self-funded and
    becomes vested after ten years of service. Payment in the form of a pension
    commences at age 65 and is .65% times the number of years' service times the
    average of the last twelve months base salary.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   10
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to grants
of options during the year ended December 31, 1998 and their potential
realizable values.
 
                       OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                      INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        % OF TOTAL
                                                         OPTIONS
                                                        GRANTED TO     EXERCISE                   GRANT DATE
                                           OPTIONS     EMPLOYEES IN      PRICE      EXPIRATION   PRESENT VALUE
                 NAME                    GRANTED (#)   FISCAL YEAR     ($/SHARE)       DATE           ($)
                 ----                    -----------   ------------    ---------    ----------   -------------
<S>                                      <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>
John C. Miles II.......................    94,700         13.53         24.9375     12/10/2008       846,343(1)
Gerald K. Kunkle.......................    56,000          8.00         24.9375     12/10/2008       500,478(1)
W. William Weston......................    27,500          3.93         24.9375     12/10/2008       245,770(1)
Michael R. Crane.......................    27,500          3.93         24.9375     12/10/2008       245,770(1)
Thomas L. Whiting......................    27,500          3.93         24.9375     12/10/2008       245,770(1)
</TABLE>
 
     The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the
exercise of options during the year ended December 31, 1998 and the value of
options held at that date.
 
                AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
                       AND FISCAL YEAR-END OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED         VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                             OPTIONS HELD AT FISCAL        IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                                                    YEAR-END               FISCAL YEAR-END ($)(2)
                         SHARES ACQUIRED       VALUE       ---------------------------   ---------------------------
         NAME            ON EXERCISE (#)    REALIZED ($)   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE
         ----            ---------------    ------------   -----------   -------------   -----------   -------------
<S>                      <C>                <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>
John C. Miles II.......           --               --        171,667        162,233         662,209       118,585
Gerald K. Kunkle.......           --               --         21,134         98,266          26,434        98,366
W. William Weston......           --               --         58,200         41,500         269,800        28,044
Michael R. Crane.......           --               --         34,200         41,700         171,850        28,519
Thomas L. Whiting......           --               --         53,733         44,967         238,316        36,278
</TABLE>
 
(1) Determined using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following
    assumptions: expected dividend yield 0.8%, risk-free interest rate 4.51%,
    expected volatility 29%, and expected life 6.5 years.
 
(2) Represents the difference between the last reported sale price of the Common
    Stock as reported on the Nasdaq National Market on December 31, 1998
    ($25.75) and the exercise price of the options, multiplied by the number of
    shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the options.
 
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
 
     The Company is party to employment agreements with all of the named
executive officers. Each of these employment agreements provides that, upon
termination of such individual's employment with the Company as a result of the
employee's death, the Company is obligated to pay the employee's estate the then
current base compensation of the employee for a period of one year following the
date of the employee's death, together with the employee's pro rata share of any
incentive or bonus payments due for the period prior to the employee's death.
Each of the employment agreements also provides that, in the event that the
employee's employment is terminated by the Company (in certain cases without
"cause," as defined in the employment agreements) or by the employee with "good
reason" (as described in the employment agreements), (i) the Company will be
obligated to pay the employee for a period of two years subsequent to
termination of employment at the rate paid to the employee during the prior 12
month period, and (ii) the employee will be entitled to receive the benefits
that would have been accrued by him during the two year period following
termination of employment under employee benefit plans, programs or other
arrangements of the Company or any of its affiliates in which the employee
participated before the termination of his employment. In the event that such
termination of employment is made by the Company without cause or by the
employee with good reason after a "change in control" (as defined in the
employment agreements), the employee may require the
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   11
 
Company to pay to the employee, within five days after the employee's request
for such payment, the present value of the amounts that would have been payable
to him under the employment agreement during the two year period following such
termination of employment.
 
     The Company has also entered into employment agreements with certain other
members of senior management having terms substantially similar to those
described above.
 
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
 
     Members of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Company
("Outside Directors") receive an annual fee of $20,000 ($22,000 for Outside
Directors who are chairpersons of any committee of the Board) and an additional
fee of $1,000 for each Board and committee meeting attended. In addition, each
Outside Director serving in 1993 or newly elected subsequent to that time
received a nondiscretionary grant of options to purchase 6,000 shares of Common
Stock under the 1993 Stock Option Plan. Each Outside Director will automatically
receive an additional grant of 6,000 options on every third anniversary of the
date of the initial grant of options to each director, respectively. Directors
are reimbursed for travel and other expenses relating to attendance at Board and
Committee meetings.
 
     During 1996, the Company established a new Directors' Deferred Compensation
Plan (the "Deferred Plan"), which replaced the plan that was enacted during
1994. The Deferred Plan permits members of the Board of Directors who are not
employees of the Company to elect to defer receipt of directors fees or other
compensation for their services as directors. Eligible directors can elect to
have their deferred payments administered as a cash with interest account or a
stock unit account. Payment under the Deferred Plan will not be made to any
Outside Director until the director ceases to be a Board member.
 
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
 
     Prior to December 18, 1997, Mr. Schollmaier, Dr. Dugoni, Mr. Fetterolf and
Mr. Coleman were members of the Human Resources Committee. From December 18,
1997 to date, Mr. Borgelt, Mr. Coleman, Dr. Dugoni and Mr. Fetterolf were
members of the Human Resources Committee.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   12
 
         SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
 
     The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial
ownership of the Company's Common Stock as of February 20, 1999 held by (i) each
person who is known by the Company to have been the beneficial owner of more
than five percent of the Company's Common Stock on such date, (ii) each director
and nominee for director, (iii) the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the
other named executive officers, and (iv) all directors and executive officers of
the Company as a group (based on 52,566,138 shares of Common Stock outstanding
as of such date).
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    SHARES OWNED
                                                                    BENEFICIALLY
               DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS                  ------------------------
               AND FIVE PERCENT STOCKHOLDERS                   NUMBER          PERCENT
               -----------------------------                   ------          -------
<S>                                                           <C>              <C>
The DENTSPLY International Inc.
  Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust.......................  7,416,632(1)      14.1
  c/o State Street Bank
  and Trust Company
  P. O. Box 1389
  Boston, MA 02104-1389
Burton C. Borgelt...........................................    931,325(2)       1.8
John C. Miles II............................................    386,928(3)         *
Gerald K. Kunkle............................................     53,938(4)         *
W. William Weston...........................................    101,090(5)         *
Thomas L. Whiting...........................................    112,503(6)         *
Michael R. Crane............................................     62,438(7)         *
Douglas K. Chapman..........................................     42,486(8)         *
Michael J. Coleman..........................................     16,200(9)         *
Arthur A. Dugoni, D.D.S., M.S.D.............................     10,000(10)        *
C. Frederick Fetterolf......................................      8,000(11)        *
Leslie A. Jones.............................................    343,372(10)        *
W. Keith Smith..............................................     22,570(10)        *
Edgar H. Schollmaier........................................     14,000(12)        *
All directors and executive officers as a group(15
  persons)..................................................  2,121,642(13)      4.0
</TABLE>
 
- ---------
 
  *   Less than 1%
 
   (1) Participants in the Company ESOP have the right to direct the trustee of
       the Company ESOP as to the voting of shares allocated to such
       participants' accounts on all matters submitted to a vote of the
       stockholders of the Company, including the election of directors.
       Unallocated shares and shares as to which no directions are received by
       the trustee of the Company ESOP are voted as directed by the Company ESOP
       Committee, which consists of certain employees of the Company. As of
       February 20, 1999, 6,281,124 of the shares held by the trust holding the
       assets of the Company ESOP were allocated to participant accounts and
       1,135,508 shares remained unallocated. Each Company ESOP participant who
       is fully vested is entitled to receive a distribution of all of the
       shares of Common Stock allocated to his or her account as soon as
       practicable after such participant's employment with the Company
       terminates. In general, except for certain participants who are age 55 or
       older and have been participants in the Company ESOP for at least 10
       years, participants are not entitled to sell shares allocated to their
       accounts until their employment has terminated and the shares allocated
       to such participants' accounts are distributed to them.
 
   (2) Includes 82,516 shares owned by a trust of which Mr. Borgelt is a
       co-trustee with shared investment and voting power, 46,332 shares held by
       Mr. Borgelt's grandchildren, 169,333 shares allocated to the Company ESOP
       account of Mr. Borgelt, and 110,000 shares which could be acquired
       pursuant to the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days of
       February 20, 1999.
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   13
 
   (3) Includes 60,437 shares allocated to the Company ESOP account of Mr.
       Miles, 11,794 shares held in Mr. Miles's individual retirement account,
       and 171,667 shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of
       options exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
   (4) Includes 1,538 shares allocated to the Company ESOP account of Mr. Kunkle
       and 37,400 shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of
       options exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
   (5) Consists of 42,890 shares held by Mr. Weston's spouse and 58,200 shares
       which could be acquired pursuant to exercise of options exercisable
       within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
   (6) Includes 37,846 shares allocated to the Company ESOP account of Mr.
       Whiting and 53,733 shares which could be acquired pursuant to exercise of
       options exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
   (7) Consists of 35,696 shares allocated to the Company ESOP account of Mr.
       Crane, 276 shares held in Mr. Crane's 401(k) account, and 26,466 shares
       which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of options exercisable
       within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
   (8) Includes 1,000 shares held by Mr. Chapman's spouse and 10,000 shares
       which could be acquired pursuant to exercise of options exercisable
       within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
   (9) Includes 4,200 shares held by Mr. Coleman's spouse and 10,000 shares
       which could be acquired pursuant to exercise of options exercisable
       within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
  (10) Includes 10,000 shares which could be acquired pursuant to exercise of
       options exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
  (11) Includes 6,000 shares which could be acquired pursuant to exercise of
       stock options exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
  (12) Includes 4,000 shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of
       options exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
  (13) Includes 177,938 shares held by or for the benefit of others, 11,794
       shares held in an individual retirement account, 276 shares held in a
       401(k) account, 308,175 shares allocated to employees' ESOP accounts, and
       525,933 shares which could be acquired pursuant to the exercise of
       warrants and options exercisable within 60 days of February 20, 1999.
 
     The Board of Directors has established stock ownership guidelines to
encourage accumulation and retention of Common Stock by executives of the
Company, including the named executive officers. The guidelines are stated as a
multiple of annual base salary as follows: three times annual base salary for
the chief executive officer; two times annual base salary for the chief
operating officer; one times annual base salary for senior vice presidents; .75
times base salary for Vice Presidents and other Officers; and .50 times base
salary for General Managers. The recommended time period for reaching the
guidelines is five years. Common Stock allocated to officers in their Company
ESOP account and individual retirement plans will be included but stock options
will not be counted in determining ownership levels.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   14
 
           HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
     The Human Resources Committee (the "Committee") is pleased to present its
report on executive compensation. This report describes the components of the
Company's executive officer compensation programs and the basis on which
compensation determinations are made with respect to the executive officers of
the Company.
 
     In May 1998, the Committee retained Towers Perrin ("Towers") to study and
report on the Company's executive compensation practices. In November 1998 the
Company again retained Towers to do competitive evaluations of the total
compensation for twelve of the Company's corporate officer and executive
positions. The Human Resources Committee reviewed the findings of these studies
and made its recommendations to the Board of Directors of the Company at
meetings held in December 1998.
 
COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHY
 
     It is the philosophy of the Company that a significant portion of executive
compensation be directly linked to the Company's success in meeting profit,
growth and corporate performance goals, as well as increases in stockholder
value. The Committee utilizes the following objectives as guidelines for
compensation decisions:
 
     -- Provide a competitive total compensation package that enables the
        Company to attract and retain key personnel.
 
     -- Provide a broad-based compensation package that recognizes the
        contributions of all management personnel.
 
     -- Provide variable compensation opportunities, primarily on an annual
        basis, that are directly linked to corporate performance goals.
 
     -- Provide long-term compensation opportunities, through stock options,
        that align executive compensation with value received by stockholders.
 
     The Company does not anticipate that it will be affected in the near future
by Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, which imposes an annual limit of
$1,000,000 per person on the federal income tax deduction for executive
compensation which is not performance based in accordance with certain
requirements. If the Company were to determine that Section 162(m) might limit
the deductibility of certain payments, the Company would consider the steps
necessary to modify its compensation programs so that the problem of
non-deductibility would be avoided.
 
COMPENSATION PROGRAM COMPONENTS
 
     The Committee periodically reviews the Company's compensation programs to
ensure that pay levels and incentive opportunities are competitive and reflect
the performance of the Company. The compensation program for executive officers
is comprised of the following components: base salary, annual incentive
compensation and stock options. Each of these components is summarized below.
 
     Base Salary.  In May and December 1998, the Committee reviewed and approved
the base salaries of John C. Miles II, Gerald K. Kunkle, Michael R. Crane, W.
William Weston and Thomas L. Whiting, in light of the information supplied by
Towers concerning industry practices and the recommendations made by them with
respect to the Company's compensation policies. Based on the above information,
effective in 1999 the Committee kept Mr. Miles' base salary at $550,000 and
approved an increase in Mr. Kunkle's base salary from $335,000 to $348,400.
Effective in 1999, the Committee approved an increase in the base salary of Mr.
Whiting of $7,500 from $217,000 to $224,500.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   15
 
     Among the factors that the Committee considered in setting base salaries
for executive officers were its interpretation of the Towers' report regarding
salary levels of executive officers of other companies in the health care
industry or companies of similar size and growth records in other industries,
and a subjective evaluation of the Company's performance. While the Committee
believes that it will be appropriate to attempt to maintain base salaries in
line with perceived industry averages for comparable companies, the amount of
any particular salary increase will also depend upon the individual's job
performance. In addition to the Towers' report, the Chief Executive Officer's
recommendations were taken into account in setting the base salaries of
executive officers other than the Chief Executive Officer.
 
     Annual Incentive Compensation.  Annual bonuses represent payments for the
achievement of short-term objectives and recognize both the overall performance
of the Company and individual performance in a given year. In December 1997, the
Committee met and voted to continue the bonus program then in effect for senior
executives in 1998.
 
     Under this bonus policy, during 1998, certain target award opportunities
were established for the Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"), President
and Chief Operating Officer ("COO") and Senior Vice Presidents. For the CEO and
COO, the target consisted solely of a budgeted level of corporate operating net
income, while for the Senior Vice Presidents other than the Chief Financial
Officer the targets consisted of: (i) the budgeted level of corporate operating
net income; and (ii) the budgeted operating income level (after adjustment to
reflect a charge for the assets employed) of the business group applicable to
each such Senior Vice President. For Mr. Miles and Mr. Kunkle, the bonus award
for 100% of targeted performance was set at 60% of their base salaries, while
for Messrs. Weston, Crane and Whiting the bonus awards for 100% of targeted
performance were set at 55% of their respective base salaries. Messrs. Miles,
Kunkle, Weston, Crane and Whiting received bonus awards for 1998 of 51.4%,
51.4%, 45.8%, 23.6%, and 52.2%, respectively, of their base salaries.
 
     The Committee reviewed Towers' report on the competitiveness of the
Company's executive retirement benefits. Based on it's review of the findings of
the study, the Committee determined that the retirement benefits of executives
are not competitive. The Committee made recommendations to the Board of
Directors of the Company at a meeting held in December 1998 regarding executive
retirement benefits. Based on such recommendations the Board of Directors
adopted the DENTSPLY International Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
("SERP") effective January 1, 1999. The SERP is an unfunded "top-hat" plan for
the purposes of providing additional retirement benefits for highly compensated
employees of the Company, including the named executive officers, to make the
Company's executive retirement benefits more competitive and to make up for
contributions that would otherwise have been made for such executives under the
terms of the Company's ESOP if it were not for the limitations imposed by the
Internal Revenue Code.
 
                           HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
 
MICHAEL J. COLEMAN       BURTON C. BORGELT      ARTHUR A. DUGONI, D.D.S., M.S.D.
                             C. FREDERICK FETTEROLF
 
STOCK OPTIONS
 
     The Company's 1998 Stock Option Plan is intended to motivate key employees
to put forth maximum efforts toward the continued growth, profitability and
success of the Company by providing incentives through the ownership and
performance of the Company's Common Stock. The plan is designed to provide
benefits to key management only to the extent that stockholders enjoy increases
in value.
 
     In 1998, 261,500 stock options were granted to the Company's executive
officers under the 1998 Stock Option Plan. The Stock Option Subcommittee of the
Human Resources Committee considered the respective stock and option holdings of
the executive officers of the Company in comparison with stock and option
holdings of top executives of companies of similar size and growth records,
based in large part upon the recommendations set forth in the Towers' report,
and made option awards during 1998 that were intended to keep its executive
officers' holdings competitive with industry averages for comparable companies.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   16
 
     In determining the number of stock options to be granted to Mr. Miles in
1998, the Stock Option Subcommittee compared Mr. Miles' base salary, bonus and
past stock option grants to the compensation practices of corporations with
revenues of $500 million to $1 billion in Towers' Executive Compensation Data
Base. The grant made to Mr. Miles placed a greater emphasis on the long term
portion of his total direct compensation (base salary, annual bonus and the
Black Scholes value of DENTSPLY option grants) while still positioning his total
direct compensation between the 50th and 75th percentiles of competitive
practice.
 
                           STOCK OPTION SUBCOMMITTEE
 
MICHAEL J. COLEMAN    ARTHUR A. DUGONI, D.D.S., M.S.D.    C. FREDERICK FETTEROLF
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   17
 
                COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN
 
     The following graph shows the cumulative total stockholder return on the
Company's Common Stock over the last five fiscal years as compared to the
returns of the Nasdaq Total Return Index and the Standard & Poor's Health Care
Index. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on December 31, 1993 in the
Company's Common Stock and in the Nasdaq Total Return Index and the Standard &
Poor's Health Care Index and assumes reinvestment of dividends.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED                                                                      S&P HEALTH CARE         DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL,
DECEMBER 31,                                    NASDAQ TOTAL RETURN INDEX        COMPOSITE INDEX                  INC.
- ------------                                    -------------------------        ---------------         -----------------------
<S>                                             <C>                         <C>                         <C>
 1993                                                    100.00                      100.00                      100.00
 1994                                                     97.80                      113.10                       71.90
 1995                                                    138.30                      178.60                       92.10
 1996                                                    170.00                      215.60                      110.20
 1997                                                    208.60                      309.90                      142.60
 1998                                                    293.20                      446.90                      121.30
</TABLE>
 
            SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
 
     Under federal securities laws, the Company's directors, certain officers,
and persons holding more than 10% of the Common Stock of the Company are
required to report, within specified monthly and annual due dates, their initial
ownership and any subsequent changes in ownership to the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The Company is required to describe in this Proxy Statement whether
it has knowledge that any person required to file such report may have failed to
do so in a timely manner. Based upon reports furnished to the Company and
written representations and information provided to the Company by the persons,
the Company believes that during fiscal 1998, all such persons complied with all
applicable filing requirements, except that, the monthly report for November
1998 for Mr. William Jellison, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, with respect to one transaction was filed after the due date.
 
                 STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS FOR 2000 PROXY STATEMENT
 
     Stockholder proposals that are intended to be presented at the Company's
2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and included in the proxy statement and
proxy relating to that meeting must be received by the Company no later than
December 16, 1999.
 
     After the December 16, 1999 deadline, subject to the Company's By-Laws, a
stockholder may present a proposal at the Company's 2000 Annual Meeting if the
proposal is submitted to the Secretary of the Company no later than March 20,
2000. The Company is not obligated to present the matter in its proxy materials.
To propose business for the Annual Meeting, a stockholder must specify in
writing the business desired to be brought before the Annual Meeting and the
reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting, the
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   18
 
proposing stockholder's name and address, the class and number of shares
beneficially owned by the stockholder, and any material interest of the
stockholder in such business.
 
     Subject to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws,
a stockholder may request that persons be nominated for election as directors by
submitting such request, together with the written consent of the persons
proposed to be nominated, to the Secretary of the Company no later than March
20, 2000. To be in proper form and to be considered, the nominating stockholder
must set forth in writing, as to each proposed nominee, the nominee's age,
business address, residence address, principal occupation or employment, number
of shares of Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by such person and
such other information related to such person as is required to be disclosed by
applicable law, and, as to the stockholder submitting the request, such
stockholder's name and address as they appear on the Company's books and the
number of shares of Common Stock of the Company owned beneficially by such
person.
 
                                   FORM 10-K
 
     STOCKHOLDERS MAY OBTAIN A COPY (WITHOUT EXHIBITS) OF THE COMPANY'S ANNUAL
REPORT ON FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AS FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WITHOUT CHARGE BY WRITING TO: DIRECTOR OF
INVESTOR RELATIONS, DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC., 570 WEST COLLEGE AVENUE, YORK,
PENNSYLVANIA 17405-0872.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
     The Board of Directors knows of no matters which are to be brought before
the Annual Meeting other than those set forth in the accompanying Notice of
Annual Meeting of Stockholders. If any other matters properly come before the
Annual Meeting, the person named in the enclosed proxy card, or his duly
appointed substitute acting at the Annual Meeting, will be authorized to vote or
otherwise act thereon in accordance with his judgment on such matters.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   19
PROXY                                                                      PROXY

                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                   PROXY SOLICITED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  MAY 19, 1999

     The undersigned stockholder of DENTSPLY International Inc. (the "Company")
hereby appoints Brian M. Addison as the attorney and proxy of the undersigned,
with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Company which the undersigned would be entitled to vote
if personally present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, to
be held at the Company's Employee Meeting Room, 570 West College Avenue, York,
Pennsylvania, on Wednesday, May 19, 1999, commencing at 9:30 a.m., local time,
and at any adjournment or postponement thereof, as follows:

                   (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON OTHER SIDE)

<PAGE>   20
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                             PLEASE MARK VOTE IN OVAL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER USING DARK INK ONLY. [X]

[                                                                                                                                ] 

<S>                                                          <C>                   <C>
1. Election of Class I Directors:                                                  2. Proposal to ratify the appointment of 
   Nominees: Burton C. Borgelt, Douglas K. Chapman and                                KPMG LLP, independent certified accountants,
   C. Frederick Fetterolf                                                             to audit the books and accounts of the Company
   Instruction: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for any individual                      for the year ending December 31, 1999
   nominee, mark the oval "For All Except" and write that nominee's
   name in the space provided.

               For       Withhold     For All                                                For       Against      Abstain  
               All         All        Except                                               
                                                                                           [    ]       [    ]       [    ]
             [    ]       [    ]       [    ]                                              

                                                              --------------------
                                                              Nominee Exception(s)

                                                                                      In his discretion, the proxy holder is
                                                                                      authorized to vote upon such other matters as
                                                                                      may properly come before the meeting. UNLESS
                                                                                      OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THE SHARES OF COMMON
                                                                                      STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL BE VOTED "FOR"
                                                                                      THE ELECTION AS CLASS I DIRECTORS OF ALL THE
                                                                                      NOMINEES LISTED AND "FOR" PROPOSAL 2.

                                                                                      Dated:______________________________, 1999

                                                                                      __________________________________________
                                                                                      Signature of Stockholder

                                                                                      __________________________________________
                                                                                      Signature of Stockholder
    
                                                                                     
NOTE: Please sign this proxy exactly as name(s) appear on your stock certificate. When signing as attorney-in-fact, executor, 
administrator, trustee or guardian, please add your title as such, and if signer is a corporation, please sign with full corporate 
name by a duly authorized officer or officers and affix the corporate seal. Where stock is issued in the name of two (2) or more 
persons, all such persons should sign.

                                         IMPORTANT: PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY.

                                                        FOLD AND DETACH HERE

                      PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY FORM PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   21

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[LOGO]                                         DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                                               570 West College Avenue
                                               P.O. Box 872
                                               York, PA 17405-0872
                                               (717) 845-7511
 
                                               Fax (717) 854-2343
 
April 15, 1999
 
Dear DENTSPLY ESOP Participant:
 
AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE DENTSPLY EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN, YOU HAVE THE
RIGHT TO DIRECT THE ESOP TRUSTEE TO VOTE THE SHARES OF DENTSPLY COMMON STOCK
ALLOCATED TO YOUR ESOP ACCOUNT.
 
Enclosed for your information are: a proxy statement providing background for
the proposals to be acted upon at DENTSPLY's 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders; and the Annual Report for DENTSPLY for the year ending December
31, 1998. Please read the proxy statement carefully, and decide how you want the
trustee to vote the shares of stock that are allocated to your ESOP account.
Then, fill in the enclosed voting instruction card to direct the ESOP trustee,
State Street Bank & Trust Company, how to vote the shares in your ESOP account.
 
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
 
The ESOP trustee will vote your shares as you direct. Any shares for which the
ESOP trustee receives no voting instructions, and any unallocated shares, will
be voted by the ESOP trustee as instructed by the DENTSPLY ESOP Committee.
 
YOUR VOTE IS CONFIDENTIAL.
 
Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the ESOP trustee. Voting
tabulations that identify individual ESOP participants will not be disclosed to
DENTSPLY.
 
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT.
 
Review the proxy statement, fill in your voting instruction card, sign and date
it, and mail it to the ESOP trustee in the return envelope so that it will be
received no later than May 17, 1999.
 
Very truly yours,
/s/ JOHN C. MILES II
John C. Miles II
 
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
 
<PAGE>   22
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                  ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, MAY 19, 1999

To State Street Bank & Trust Company, Trustee:

     As a participant in the DENTSPLY International Inc. Employee Stock
Ownership Plan (the "ESOP"), I hereby instruct you to vote the shares of Common
Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of DENTSPLY International Inc.
(the "Company") allocated to my ESOP account (a) in accordance with the
following direction and (b) to grant a proxy to the proxy nominated by the
Company's Board of Directors authorizing him to vote in his discretion upon such
other matters as may properly come before the meeting.

                   (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON OTHER SIDE)

<PAGE>   23
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                             PLEASE MARK VOTE IN OVAL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER USING DARK INK ONLY. [X]

[                                                                                                                                ] 

<S>                                                          <C>                   <C>
1. Election of Class I Directors:                                                  2. Proposal to ratify the appointment of 
   Nominees: Burton C. Borgelt, Douglas K. Chapman and                                KPMG LLP, independent certified accountants,
   C. Frederick Fetterolf                                                             to audit the books and accounts of the Company
   Instruction: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for any individual                      for the year ending December 31, 1999
   nominee, mark the oval "For All Except" and write that nominee's
   name in the space provided.

               For       Withhold     For All                                                For       Against      Abstain  
               All         All        Except                                               
                                                                                           [    ]       [    ]       [    ]
             [    ]       [    ]       [    ]                                              

                                                              --------------------
                                                              Nominee Exception(s)

                                                                                      In his discretion, the proxy holder is
                                                                                      authorized to vote upon such other matters as
                                                                                      may properly come before the meeting. UNLESS
                                                                                      OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THE SHARES OF COMMON
                                                                                      STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL BE VOTED "FOR"
                                                                                      THE ELECTION AS CLASS I DIRECTORS OF ALL THE
                                                                                      NOMINEES LISTED AND "FOR" PROPOSAL 2.

                                                                                      Dated:______________________________, 1999

                                                                                      __________________________________________
                                                                                      Signature of Stockholder

                                                                                      __________________________________________
                                                                                      Signature of Stockholder
    
                                                                                     
NOTE: Please sign this proxy exactly as name(s) appear on your stock certificate. When signing as attorney-in-fact, executor, 
administrator, trustee or guardian, please add your title as such, and if signer is a corporation, please sign with full corporate 
name by a duly authorized officer or officers and affix the corporate seal. Where stock is issued in the name of two (2) or more 
persons, all such persons should sign.

                                         IMPORTANT: PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY.

                                                        FOLD AND DETACH HERE

                      PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY FORM PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   24
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[LOGO]                                         DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                                               570 West College Avenue
                                               P.O. Box 872
                                               York, PA 17405-0872
                                               (717) 845-7511
 
                                               Fax (717) 854-2343
 
April 15, 1999
 
Dear DENTSPLY 401(k) Participant:
 
AS A PARTICIPANT IN THE DENTSPLY 401(k) SAVINGS PLAN, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO
DIRECT THE 401(k) TRUSTEE TO VOTE THE SHARES OF DENTSPLY COMMON STOCK HELD IN
YOUR 401(k) ACCOUNT.
 
Enclosed for your information are: a proxy statement providing background for
the proposals to be acted upon at DENTSPLY's 1999 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders; and the Annual Report for DENTSPLY for the year ending December
31, 1998. Please read the proxy statement carefully, and decide how you want the
trustee to vote the shares of stock that are allocated to your 401(k) account.
Then, fill in the enclosed voting instruction card to direct the 401(k) trustee,
The Charles Schwab Trust Company, how to vote the shares in your 401(k) account.
 
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT.
 
The 401(k) trustee will vote your shares as you direct. Any shares for which the
401(k) trustee receives no voting instructions will be voted by the 401(k)
trustee as instructed by the DENTSPLY 401(k) Committee.
 
YOUR VOTE IS CONFIDENTIAL.
 
Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the 401(k) trustee. Voting
tabulations that identify individual 401(k) participants will not be disclosed
to DENTSPLY.
 
MAKE YOUR VOTE COUNT.
 
Review the proxy statement, fill in your voting instruction card, sign and date
it, and mail it to the 401(k) trustee in the return envelope so that it will be
received no later than May 17, 1999.
 
Very truly yours,
/s/ JOHN C. MILES II
John C. Miles II
 
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
 
LOGO
<PAGE>   25
VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

                          DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                  ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS, MAY 19, 1999

To The Charles Schwab Trust Company, Trustee:

     As a participant in the DENTSPLY International Inc. 401(k) Savings Plan
(the "410(k)"), I hereby instruct you to vote the shares of Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share ("Common Stock"), of DENTSPLY International Inc. (the
"Company") allocated to my 401(k) account (a) in accordance with the following
direction and (b) to grant a proxy to the proxy nominated by the Company's Board
of Directors authorizing him to vote in his discretion upon such other matters
as may properly come before the meeting.

                   (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON OTHER SIDE)

<PAGE>   26
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    DENTSPLY INTERNATIONAL INC.
                             PLEASE MARK VOTE IN OVAL IN THE FOLLOWING MANNER USING DARK INK ONLY. [X]

[                                                                                                                                ] 

<S>                                                          <C>                   <C>
1. Election of Class I Directors:                                                  2. Proposal to ratify the appointment of 
   Nominees: Burton C. Borgelt, Douglas K. Chapman and                                KPMG LLP, independent certified accountants,
   C. Frederick Fetterolf                                                             to audit the books and accounts of the Company
   Instruction: TO WITHHOLD AUTHORITY to vote for any individual                      for the year ending December 31, 1999
   nominee, mark the oval "For All Except" and write that nominee's
   name in the space provided.

               For       Withhold     For All                                                For       Against      Abstain  
               All         All        Except                                               
                                                                                           [    ]       [    ]       [    ]
             [    ]       [    ]       [    ]                                              

                                                              --------------------
                                                              Nominee Exception(s)

                                                                                      In his discretion, the proxy holder is
                                                                                      authorized to vote upon such other matters as
                                                                                      may properly come before the meeting. UNLESS
                                                                                      OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THE SHARES OF COMMON
                                                                                      STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY WILL BE VOTED "FOR"
                                                                                      THE ELECTION AS CLASS I DIRECTORS OF ALL THE
                                                                                      NOMINEES LISTED AND "FOR" PROPOSAL 2.

                                                                                      Dated:______________________________, 1999

                                                                                      __________________________________________
                                                                                      Signature of Stockholder

                                                                                      __________________________________________
                                                                                      Signature of Stockholder
    
                                                                                     
NOTE: Please sign this proxy exactly as name(s) appear on your stock certificate. When signing as attorney-in-fact, executor, 
administrator, trustee or guardian, please add your title as such, and if signer is a corporation, please sign with full corporate 
name by a duly authorized officer or officers and affix the corporate seal. Where stock is issued in the name of two (2) or more 
persons, all such persons should sign.

                                         IMPORTANT: PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY.

                                                        FOLD AND DETACH HERE

                      PLEASE VOTE, SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS PROXY FORM PROMPTLY USING THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
</TABLE>


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