How likely is someone to have "dry socket" symptoms before having bad teeth removed?

Well, sure..: ... If you consider pain, possible swelling, a bad odor and bad taste coming from a terribly broken down tooth, then the answer is yes. But a dry socket occurs when bone is exposed after an extraction, so no extraction = no dry socket.

Very slim: The pain typically starts about 2-3 days after the tooth was extracted. Other symptoms of dry socket include bad breath and an unpleasant smell. The most important thing you can do to prevent a dry socket is follow the post operative instructions by your surgeon.