dont' know if this helps any, but I am a dental student. it is quite common to have swelling after extractions, especially 3rd molar (wisdom teeth
) extractions. Like Queshonya said, there are SEVERAL nerves in that area that can be 'hit' or twisted or so on during the extraction. Did your dentist give you antibiotics to take after the extraction? And did you get post-op instructions to NOT smoke, not to eat hard foods, to NOT spit (like a hard powerful spit) and to not suck through straws?