What are the teeth on a bucket called?

The replaceable pointed components mounted along the front edge of an excavator or loader bucket are universally referred to as bucket teeth or simply teeth. They are the primary contact point and the most critical wear part on digging and earth-moving equipment.

Their core function is to concentrate force and penetrate material. By focusing the machine's immense breakout power onto a small, sharp area, teeth allow the bucket to efficiently dig into, rip through, or pry apart dense or compacted surfaces like soil, rock, and asphalt. They absorb the majority of the abrasion and impact shock, thereby protecting the much larger and more expensive bucket base edge (or lip) from direct wear and damage.

The design described in your reference text is that of a general-duty or "chisel" tooth, which is indeed one of the most common patterns. Its broad base provides strength and secure mounting, while the profile that narrows into a flat chisel-shaped edge offers an excellent balance of penetration and durability. The flat edge provides efficient scooping action and helps prevent the bucket from veering off course in stratified or rocky ground.

Beyond this general-duty style, teeth come in various specialized profiles (like long-pointed rock teeth or multi-pronged ripper teeth) and are categorized by their attachment system, such as pin-on or vertical pin (VP) styles. Regardless of type, all bucket teeth serve the same essential purpose: to transform the bucket's blunt leading edge into an effective, durable, and replaceable digging tool that dramatically enhances productivity and protects the core investment of the machine.