A universal pocket and method for attaching a tooth to a cutter wheel of a tree stump removal machine is described. The pocket includes a pocket body defining opposing wheel and exterior faces, opposing planar leading and trailing edges, a tooth receiving slot, a counter sunk bore, and a threaded bore. The tooth receiving slot is linearly formed in the wheel face and extends between the planar leading edge and the planar trailing edge. The counter sunk bore extends between the exterior face and the wheel face and has an enlarged diameter adjacent to the exterior face. The threaded bore extends between the exterior face and the wheel face. In particular, the bores are located on either side of the tooth receiving slot and equidistant between the planar leading and trailing edges. In this regard, the pocket is symmetric with respect to a line bisecting the bores.