A 72-year-old patient at an Ohio dentist's office was under nitrous oxide and accidentally shot himself this week.

James White on Wednesday believed he heard his cell phone ringing and went to pick it up, but got his gun, WCMH reported.

White shot himself in the hand, and the bullet grazed his stomach, the TV station said.

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A 72-year-old patient at an Ohio dentist's office was under nitrous oxide and accidentally shot himself this week

Sgt. Christina Evans-Fisher with the Clark County Sheriff's Office told WCMH: 'Going to a doctor's office where you might possibly be placed under some kind of medication that may alter your mental status at the point, you might not want to carry a weapon in there at that time.

'So think about your safety and the safety of the people around you.'

A New Carlisle Dental Group dental worker said in a 911 call broadcast by the TV station: 'We have a patient here in a chair. He accidentally shot himself with a gun in his hand.'

The worker said in the call: 'He was in the chair, and he was doing his filling, and I'm not for sure what happened. He got his gun and I don't know.'

White shot himself in the hand, and the bullet grazed his stomach

The man was taken to a hospital for treatment of the injury, which wasn't considered serious, the Springfield News-Sun reported. No other injuries were reported.

Sgt. Chad Brown says the patient has a permit to carry a concealed weapon.

The man might be charged with using weapons while intoxicated, the newspaper reported.