There are three methods of grafting to correct receding gums, however, the method that will be used for you largely depends upon the amount of gum tissue you have available for grafting. The most commonly performed grafts are connective tissue grafts in which donor tissue, typically allograft (cadaver material) or Mucograft (porcine graft), is attached to the gum tissue around the treatment site and sutured into place, eventually fusing together during the healing process. Additional grafting procedures include the free gingival graft and the pedicle graft, however, Dr. Bissell most often uses the connective tissue graft. Free gingival grafts correct receding gums in patients who have thinning gum tissue and are performed in a more direct fashion. With the free gingival method, donor tissue is taken directly from the roof of the mouth and stitched right to the treatment site, effectively raising the gum line. The third and final gum grafting procedure utilized by Dr. Bissell is the pedicle graft, performed only in patients with ample gum tissue near the treatment site. With this grafting technique, Dr. Bissell cuts a flap or pedicle into the gum tissue beside the exposed tooth. The flap is then pulled over the exposed tooth surface and sutured into place.