How do I know if I have a dry socket?

I had my 2 lower wisdom teeth removed one week ago tomorrow.  Three days after my surgery, I began experiencing an intense throbbing pain in my jaw.  I feel the pain all throughout my lower jaw and sometimes all the way up to my ears.  The pain will subside when I take my pain killers but seems to come back before the pain killers are supposed to have worn off.  I am also having a constant disgusting taste in my mouth.  I went to the dentist today to see if I had a dry socket.  All he did was look at my incision areas with one of those little mirrors and said everything was ok.  All he did about my pain was refill my prescription.  I can't help but think he is wrong.  The pain I have been experiencing is very intense and I am concerned that it is a dry socket.  Does it sound like that could be the case?  Also, when talking to friends who have had their wisdom teeth pulled, their dentists provided them with water picks.  I did not receive one, however.  Is this something my dentist should have given me?  For the time being, I am just collecting food particles in my incision areas.  I feel very uneasy about the whole situation.  I appreciate your help.

[scottma]

excruciating pain of extraction site may be suggetive of dry socket. Systemic administration of apopropriate antibiotics tends to clear up infection within 72 hours.