I had a relatively similar experience.....starting with a dentist having too many difficulties and problems with a crown, which led to tooth pain and a bit of ear pain. Everyone thought I had an infection. With each dental procedure following, the mouth and ear pain worsened. Ear pain CAN very well be a sign of nerve pain. Now, I have 24/7 severe, over the top nerve pain. When I visit nerve pain sites, I am appalled how many people there start their posts with these words or something like it "After having a tooth extraction, the next thing I knew I had permanent nerve pain in my (fill in the blank) mouth, cheek, head, nose, ear....etc. Of course, with dentistry, infection prevention and care is of utmost concern, but so is prevention and consideration of permanent nerve pain...something that many dentists don't seem to wish to discuss. Be very careful and if a dentist refuses to answer your questions, consider reporting him or her and getting a second opinion.