Legal Proceedings (Details)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 24, 2016
Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Management's Assessment and Process	As of September 24, 2016, we had accrued our best estimate of potential losses relating to claims that were probable to result in liability and for which we were able to reasonably estimate a loss. This accrued amount, as well as related expenses, was not material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Our method for determining estimated losses considers currently available facts, presently enacted laws and regulations and other factors, including probable recoveries from third parties.
SourceOne Dental, Inc. v. Patterson Companies, Inc., Henry Schein, Inc. and Benco Dental Supply Company [Member]
Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Lawsuit Filing Date	September 2015
Loss Contingency, Name of Defendant	Patterson Companies, Inc., Henry Schein, Inc. and Benco Dental Supply Company
Loss Contingency, Name of Plaintiff	SourceOne Dental, Inc.
Loss Contingency, Allegations	Plaintiff alleges, among other things, that defendants conspired to eliminate plaintiff as a viable competitor and to exclude plaintiff from the market for the marketing, distribution and sale of dental supplies and equipment in the United States and that defendants unlawfully agreed with one another to boycott dentists, manufacturers and state dental associations that deal with, or considered dealing with, plaintiff. Plaintiff asserts the following claims: (i) unreasonable restraint of trade in violation of state and federal antitrust laws; (ii) tortious interference with prospective business relations; (iii) civil conspiracy; and (iv) aiding and abetting the other defendants’ ongoing tortious and anticompetitive conduct.
Class Action Complaints Against Patterson Companies, Inc., Benco Dental Supply Co. and Henry Schein, Inc. [Member]
Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]
Loss Contingency, Lawsuit Filing Date	January 2016
Loss Contingency, Name of Defendant	Patterson Companies, Inc., Benco Dental Supply Co. and Henry Schein, Inc
Loss Contingency, Name of Plaintiff	class action complaints
Loss Contingency, Allegations	Each of these complaints allege, among other things, that defendants conspired to fix prices, allocate customers and foreclose competitors by boycotting manufacturers, state dental associations and others that deal with defendants’ competitors.

Loss Contingency, Management's Assessment and Process

As of September 24, 2016, we had accrued our best estimate of potential losses relating to claims that were probable to result in liability and for which we were able to reasonably estimate a loss. This accrued amount, as well as related expenses, was not material to our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. Our method for determining estimated losses considers currently available facts, presently enacted laws and regulations and other factors, including probable recoveries from third parties.

Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]

Patterson Companies, Inc., Henry Schein, Inc. and Benco Dental Supply Company

Loss Contingency, Allegations

Plaintiff alleges, among other things, that defendants conspired to eliminate plaintiff as a viable competitor and to exclude plaintiff from the market for the marketing, distribution and sale of dental supplies and equipment in the United States and that defendants unlawfully agreed with one another to boycott dentists, manufacturers and state dental associations that deal with, or considered dealing with, plaintiff. Plaintiff asserts the following claims: (i) unreasonable restraint of trade in violation of state and federal antitrust laws; (ii) tortious interference with prospective business relations; (iii) civil conspiracy; and (iv) aiding and abetting the other defendants’ ongoing tortious and anticompetitive conduct.

Loss Contingency, Information about Litigation Matters [Abstract]

Loss Contingency, Name of Defendant

Patterson Companies, Inc., Benco Dental Supply Co. and Henry Schein, Inc

Loss Contingency, Allegations

Each of these complaints allege, among other things, that defendants conspired to fix prices, allocate customers and foreclose competitors by boycotting manufacturers, state dental associations and others that deal with defendants’ competitors.