What if it was a hematoma associated with the mental neurovascular bundle?
However, that shout of pain really reminds me of what I have read and seen
in lit review and in the undergrad clinic.

    Really?  I saw the side of someone's face blow up like a balloon once
after a maxillary infiltration--very striking, and certainly no bleach
involved.

Steve

Nah, the bleach. Too rapid for the venous plexus.

    So you agree it's probably bleeding from the pterygoid venous plexus?

Steve

Your thinking what I am. That stuff should be considered a WMD when it
escapes from where it belongs. The instantaneous pain and swelling are
tell-tale.

Dave

That is what the patient reported.  The only thing I can say (until the
OP responds) is that my memory of the case reports of NaHClO3 extrusion
were so awful--progressing to noma if memory serves--that the patient's
complaint of having to take last Thurs. and Fri. off would have been
followed by an even more serious story line.

Steve

but for this case, the tooth was mandibular, correct?

    I have changed the header and hope our resident oral surgeon will read
this.  I'm thinking it may still be possible with an errant injection to
the pterygoid plexus if the injection is a bit high and lateral.
    Before I start to dig out my anatomy and anesthesia texts, maybe Dr.
King will read this.

Steve

This was on the bottom right. Which is one of the reasons why my entire
right cheek, jaw and down my neck swelled up and became black and blue

This is very unusual, the dentist even said that too. Perhaps he was
inexperienced in this field.

Has to be finished up at some point. Wondering if I should even go back
to him or not. Afraid it will happen again

It has improved since last Wednesday. But a bit concerned that the
dentist has not made a call to see how I am doing since last Thursday

    If this is in the upper premolar or first molar area, your dentist
doubtless damaged a vein in the pterygoid venous plexus.  I've seen this
only once--the patient in the cubicle next to me in dental school.  I
think the instructor may have given the injection.
    It's almost certainly just one of those things.  You have to stay close
to the bone  to try to avoid the plexus.  My guess is (based on the
rarity of this happening) than unless you have a very unusually
prominent plexus this is unlikely to happen again.
    You probably should be followed by an oral surgeon to manage the
hematoma, and may need to be on antibiotics to lessen the chance of
infection.

Steve

I went in to the dentist to have 2 root canals done, side by side. The
one came out ok. Then he started working on the other one. Then the sh__
hit the fan.

I let out a scream and within moments my right cheek swelled up so big I
look like a freak show. By that night, not only was I all swelled on my
cheek, jaw and down my neck, I was also black and blue.

Did this guy know what the heck he was doing or what? He said as a
result of the needle hitting a vein, it was hematoma.

Now, I have had many root canals over course of time. But never like
this. Talked to many people and they are shocked too

He never did get the chance to finish it. And I had to be out of work
Thursday and Friday taking sick leave. Could hardly open my mouth to
talk. Let alone not being able to eat much of anything

I am at a loss here, and don't know whether I should go back and have
him finish it (and hit another vein) or find someone else. Really confused

Any suggestions?

Susan