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GET are designed in a variety of styles (forked, spade, pointed, flat paddle, etc.) to work in a variety of conditions. Selection typically boils down to identifying whether you need more wear metal or penetration.

Teeth strengthened with a lot of wear metal won't penetrate tough ground conditions as easily as high-penetrating, sharp teeth, which have a smaller amount of steel but wear more quickly. "It becomes a balancing act and a trade-off between wear metal and penetration," says Kirk Yoresen, ESCO.

Tooth spacing is another consideration. A high number of wide teeth spaced closer together act as a primary edge and hold more material, while those that are narrower and spaced farther apart can chip away at abrasive material.

Also pay attention to tooth size. "When applying a tooth on a given bucket in general-purpose to heavy-duty conditions, you may be able to use a smaller tooth," says Yoresen. "With a smaller tooth size, replacement is cheaper, you use less fuel and it's easier to get teeth to go through material. But if you're going to be in rough conditions, you will want a bigger system (tooth and holder) to withstand more power. That does require a bit more machine power to go through material, but you don't have to worry about breakage."

Although teeth bear the initial brunt when digging, the adapter (also referred to as shank, keeper, etc.) must also be able to withstand a particular application. Some adapters are welded onto the bucket, while others are bolted on.