<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001012975-05-000236
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050805
<FILING-DATE>20050809
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050809
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BERGMAN STANLEY M
<CIK>0001008413
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27078
<FILM-NUMBER>051011116
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>5168435500
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O HENRY SCHEIN INC
<STREET2>135 DURYEA ROAD
<CITY>MELVILLE
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11747
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SCHEIN HENRY INC
<CIK>0001000228
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5047
<IRS-NUMBER>113136595
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1226
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>135 DURYEA RD
<CITY>MELVILLE
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11747
<PHONE>6318425500X6867
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>135 DURYEA RD
<CITY>MELVILLE
<STATE>NY
<ZIP>11747
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-08-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001000228</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHEIN HENRY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HSIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001008413</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERGMAN STANLEY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HENRY SCHEIN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>135 DURYEA ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO and President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-08-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>64363</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1317935</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trustees</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11111</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trustees</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1556</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Sons</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Distribution of 64,363 shares of common stock of the issuer to the Stanley M. Bergman Continuing Trust dated September 14, 1994 following a liquidating distribution of shares of the Belair Capital Fund LLC held by the Stanley M. Bergman Continuing Trust dated September 14, 1994.  The Stanley M. Bergman Continuing Trust dated September 14, 1994 had a non-controlling interest in the Belair Capital Fund LLC and no investment control over the fund's portfolio securities.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares held by Stanley M. Bergman's wife and Lawrence O. Sneag as co-trustees of the Stanley M. Bergman Continuing Trust dated September 14, 1994.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares held by Lawrence O. Sneag, Stanley M. Bergman's wife or his sons as trustees of trusts for the benefit of immediate family members of Stanley M. Bergman or certain other persons, wherein Stanley M. Bergman is the grantor.  Of the 10,100 shares attributed to Mr. Bergman, he disclaims beneficial ownership with respect to 5,100 shares held in trust by his sons for the benefit of the Greenidge family except to the extent of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Represents shares held directly by Stanley M. Bergman's sons.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stanley M. Bergman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-08-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
