A method for designing a virtual dental restoration for manufacturing a dental restoration for a patient, said dental restoration including an anatomy portion and a sub-gingival portion, wherein the method includes: obtaining a virtual anatomy surface expressing a target shape of the anatomy portion of the dental restoration； and creating a virtual sub-gingival surface for the sub-gingival portion of the dental restoration； where the created virtual sub-gingival surface is shaped such that it contacts the virtual anatomy surface.
