One embodiment of the present disclosure is directed to a method used in the making of a dental restoration, which comprises the steps of determining a tooth flat at a patient's tooth, and evaluating the tooth flat to provide a geometric characteristic data of the first tooth flat. The characteristic data are used to provide a computer model of a jaw motion under occlusal contact between teeth in the patient's upper and lower jaws. In one embodiment, the method helps facilitating the preparation of dental restorations.