I would seriously push to get in prior to January. Call the ENT and tell them you will take any cancellation, even if you have to call them daily, if the pain was bad enough to go to the ER it should be looked at. Are any of your nodes swollen... Sometimes that radiates along the jaw and to the ear. It is possible to have something going on on the inside of your cheek. I would really have an ENT look at it ASAP. Pushing is the only way to go. Our medical system is great but sometimes you need to make noise. Good luck and try not to worry too much.