Misty,
I'm new to the board, but have a few thoughts. My daughter has never smoked and is basically a non-drinker, unless having a couple wine coolers a few times a year counts. She is 28 and has Stage 4 tongue cancer.
She started having ear pain and a sore throat in May of this year. Our dentist does do a thorough check of the throat, cheeks and tongue at every cleaning, but he saw nothing in June. The throat wouldn't get better and she started having trouble swallowing and felt a lump in her neck, but the family doctor could see nothing. That was in June and again in July. She finally said "enough is enough", she couldn't take the pain anymore and demanded to see a specialist in August.
He saw nothing, but ordered a CT scan. The scan showed NOTHING. But by that time, she could actually see something in her tonsil socket. So he did a biopsy and it was positive.
PLEASE, PLEASE go to another doctor. Do not wait any longer. You have to know for sure in order to have peace of mind. And, God forbid, if it is cancer, you need to start treatment ASAP.
Sorry for the long post and I don't mean to scare you unnecessarily, but I agree that your doctor is not on the right track and you need to see a cancer specialist.
Take care,
Rosemary

Was primary caregiver to my daughter Heather who had stage IV base of tongue SCC w/ primary recurrence. Original diagnosis August 21st, 2002. Primary recurrence March 18th, 2003. Died October 6th, 2003.