COLUMBUS (WCMH) — A New Carlisle, Ohio man is recovering after accidentally shooting himself during a dentist’s appointment. 
 
 72-year-old James White was under nitrous oxide at New Carlisle Dental Group when he thought he heard his phone ring, went to grab it, but accidentally grabbed his pistol and fired the weapon, sending a bullet through his hand and grazing his stomach. 
 
 No one else was injured in the incident. 
 
 “If you’re going to be put under nitrous, then you think twice about taking your gun into the dental office,” said a neighbor who lives near the dentist office. 
 
 White has his concealed carry permit and the dentist’s office has no signs asking carriers not to bring firearms into the facility. 
 
 “Going into a doctor’s office where you might be placed under some kind of medication, you might not want to carry a weapon in there,” said Sgt. Christina Evans-Fisher of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. “Think of your safety and the safety of those around you.” 
 
 An employee of the New Carlisle Dental Group said the employees were “shaken up,” but also know it was absolutely an accident. ||||| A dental patient was rushed to Miami Valley Hospital after his gun accidentally fired and shot him in the hand while he was getting a dental procedure done Wednesday afternoon. 
 
 Breaking News Staff 
 
 UPDATE @ 12:50 p.m. (Sept. 1) 
 
 A 72-year-old Huber Heights man could be charged with using weapons while intoxicated after reportedly shooting himself in the hand while at the dentist. 
 
 A Clark County sheriff’s report states patient, James Short, 72, told police he heard his phone ringing and went to answer it but accidentally grabbed his weapon and shot himself. 
 
 Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said no formal charges have been filed yet and the case will go before the prosecutor. 
 
 The incident happened about 11:55 a.m. Aug. 31 at New Carlisle Dental Group on South Church Street. 
 
 Short was treated at Miami Valley Hospital for a graze to the left side of his stomach, as well as a wound on his left hand near the thumb. 
 
 UPDATE @ 1:20 p.m. (Aug. 31) 
 
 The victim was getting a dental procedure done when the gun fired and struck him in his hand, said Sgt. Chad Brown of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office. The man, who has not been identified, was taken to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton for treatment, Brown said, nothing that the man’s injury doesn’t appear to be serious. 
 
 The victim is in a 50s and has a CCW permit, and it’s not clear what caused the gun to fire, officials said. 
 
 First report (Aug. 31) 
 
 Emergency crews are responded to a reported accidental shooting inside the New Carlisle Dental Group, 103 S. Church St. 
 
 The call for service happened around noon. 
 
 Early reports indicate a man with a handgun was sitting in a dental chair and accidentally shot himself. 
 
 We’re headed to the scene and will update this story when more information becomes available.
– “If you’re going to be put under nitrous, then you think twice about taking your gun into the dental office." Solid advice from an Ohio resident living near a dental office where a bizarre incident played on Wednesday, WCMH reports. James White, 72, was at the dental office for a procedure and was under the influence of nitrous oxide when he thought he heard his phone ringing. He then mistook his gun for his phone, grabbed the pistol, and fired it. The bullet struck White in the hand and grazed his stomach. No one else was injured, but employees were "shaken up." White, who has a concealed carry permit, was treated at a hospital and is expected to be fine, at least physically. He could still face possible charges for using a weapon while intoxicated, the Springfield News-Sun reports. And while the dental office doesn't specifically ask patients not to bring their guns with them to a procedure, the local sheriff's office doesn't think it's a very good idea. “Think of your safety and the safety of those around you," one sergeant tells WCMH.