The side of my face where your cheek meets your gum on my R. side has been swollen for about 36 hours. I have no pain in my mouth or teeth on that side of my face, and until 10-12 hrs ago had relatively no pain, other than what I felt from the pressure of it being swollen. However, I have started experiencing some pain in front of my ear just below the temple, along my cheek bone to the side of my nose, where it ends. It is an "achy" to a subtle throbbing pain, which I have taken some Ibprofen's for, in doses of 3 @ 200mg per pill. I have concern, because of the swelling, but also when i initially felt a weird sensation, & it was shortly after that that it started to swell. Once it started to swell, it did so at such a rapid rate, that I was heading into the ER, as I called my mother (a retired RN) for her opinion. She instructed me to try a hot wash clothe, wait for 30 mins. then to apply a cold/ice pack, along with taking Ibprofen's to see what effect that would have on it. After doing that I felt that the swelling had stopped and possibly started to go down, as that area didnt feel as tight. However, i was woken up with discomfort early this AM, with the pain I described earlier, along with feeling as though the swelling had increased, to my R. side of my upper lip, and lip itself. I dont have insurance and would like to know if it would be better to get into a dentist, physician, or ER. Thank you for your time and advice.