Can dental work be the cause of an ear ache?

Possibly: Having your mouth open for a long period of time may cause in the jaw joint (TMJ) and the muscles that work the jaw to become painful. There is only a thin wall of bone between the ear and the joint so pain in the joint may feel like an ear ache. Either way you should see your doctor or dentist for appropriate treatment.

Yes: The dental work may not cause the pain per se, but if restorations are real deep and close to the nerve, it can cause pain and can be referred to he ear area due to the due to the complex network of nerves.

Yes: It is very common for work in the lower wisdom tooth area to refer pain to the ear. This is a classic sign with a 'dry socket' which can occur following extraction. An ear exam will be normal in this case. Other tooth pains and sensitivities or gum problems in this area can also refer pain to the ear.