CEREC vs. Lab for Dental Crown

Great question! It turns out that CEREC crowns and lab crowns can be different for a number of reasons. The quality of the crown depends on more than just whether it is made in the dental office or in a dental lab. The quality also depends on the dentist the prepares the tooth for the crown. Many labs that dentists send to to have crowns made also use the same CEREC machine to make the crown. 
One main difference with CEREC crowns is that they are often not the most aesthetic. They are milled from a block of zirconia and usually can't be layered or custom made the same way a crown made by a lab technician might be. Some crowns, especially anterior crowns that appear in the smile may not be a good candidate for CEREC. CEREC crowns, however, do offer the advantage of being convenient (done it one day instead of waiting 2 weeks for the crown to be made). 
In conclusion, when deciding where to get your dental crown done, pick a dentist with good reviews, experience, and a good reputation that uses a trusted dental lab. If you do decide to use an office that has a CEREC machine, make sure the office and dentist are reputable and have good experience! Hope this helps.

Hi:
I have used both cerec and laboratory crowns.  In my opinion, laboratory crown has a better fit, contour and color than cerec.
Best,
Dr. Maddahi