What is the best way to repair a large dent.

Prick it deeply in several places with a pin. Then steam it out with a clothes iron. May take quite a while but eventually it should swell back out. You can also just put a wad of paper towel soaked in hot water on it. Keep replacing with hot water and in a few days...voila! Steam works faster but be careful. Pricks are necessary to let the water penetrate the finish.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c75LWAmWeBQ

Try a soldering iron in lieu of the clothes iron, but with the same elements previously described (prick it, wad of wet paper towels or rag, t-shirt, etc.). That dent looks like something round fell on it, crushing the wood fibers. A soldering iron - not the tip but higher up towards the handle - looks like it would be a good fit.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I am going to try it.

Good luck. Please remember to post back on the results.

Came out good I used a x-acto blade to get under the wood and help lift it up.

I would use a syringe and some thin CA glue to inject under the loose wood and lock it into place.

I did, a lot of glue….