With the decrease in dental caries prevalence, public health should place emphasis on other dental diseases. Dental trauma is an irreversible pathology which after occurrence is characterized by life-long debilitating effects. Objectives: To measure the prevalence of trauma in anterior permanent teeth among Arab children in Jerusalem, to compare the results with a previous study among Jewish children, and to assess the associations with behavioral and orthodontic variables. Methods: 452 5th and 6th grade Arab schoolchildren in East Jerusalem were compared with 1195 Jewish children in West Jerusalem. This sample was considered representative of the general population of Jerusalem. Trauma, incisal overjet and lip competence were measured by pre-calibrated examiners in the schools. Reasons and location of trauma were assessed according to telephone interviews with the parents of the children with severe trauma. Results: The total prevalence of dental trauma was 29.6% among Jewish and 33.8% among Arab children. Severe trauma, at least involving the dentine, was found among 13.5% of the Jewish and 12.6% of the Arab children. For all the participating children severe dental trauma was more prevalent among children who were males (adjusted OR=1.54, p=0.005), who had an incisal overjet of 3-8 mm (adjusted OR=1.74, p=0.002); and who had incompetent lips (adjusted OR=2. 19, p<0.001). No significant differences were found between Jews and Arabs. The main reasons for dental trauma in both populations were falling and sport. Conclusions: Based upon these findings a community effort is being planned and initiated with the aim of educating sports teachers, teachers, health personnel, and schoolchildren regarding awareness of dental trauma prevention, with emphasis on utilizing mouth guards and early orthodontic intervention, when financially possible.