Dry socket is a condition that occurs when a blood clot at the site of a tooth extraction fails to form, or becomes dislodged before the wound fully heals. This makes the extraction site more susceptible to infection, and can be accompanied by severe pain at the extraction site. A patient who is experiencing dry socket will need to see their dentist for an assessment and treatment  including flushing the socket with a saline solution, and applying medical dressings to alleviate the pain and prevent infection.