Man accidentally shoots himself while sitting in dentist chair

NEW CARLISLE, Ohio (WRGT) -- It's not uncommon for people to fear going to the dentist, but one New Carlisle practice had a terrifying experience Wednesday afternoon when a gun accidentally went off striking a patient.

Clark County deputies say the man was having work done when the gun went off. At the time, the dental hygienist had just left the room.

"He was doing his filling, and I'm not for sure what happened,” said Clark County Sgt. Chad Brown, “He got his gun, and I don't know."

Sheriff Gene Kelly says the man was struck in the hand and side. The patient thought he was reaching for his phone, but grabbed the gun instead. New Carlisle EMS rushed him off to Miami Valley Hospital.

“He had a conceal and carry permit. It was valid," confirmed Sgt. Brown.

One patient was sitting in another room when the gun went off. He thought there was an active shooter, and began sizing up a nearby window to see if he could escape.

The dental office on South Church Street does not have a sign out front forbidding guns from entering the practice. They do plan on looking into it in the future.

NEW CARLISLE, Ohio (WRGT) -

A man accidentally shot himself in the hand this afternoon while sitting in the dentist chair.

An employee from the New Carlisle Dental Group on Church street called 911, saying the man was getting a filling when the gun went off, "I'm not for sure what happened, he got his gun, and I don't know," the employee told a dispatcher.

According to the Clark County Sheriff, the man did have a conceal to carry permit. The dentist office talked to FOX 45 and said they did not know the man had a gun on him and that the incident had them "shaken up."