Damage put right in time, filling dent (9)
I believe the answer is:
detriment
'damage' is the definition.
(I know that detriment is a type of damage)
'right in time filling dent' is the wordplay.
'right' becomes 'r' (common abbreviation).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'filling' indicates putting letters inside.
'r' going within 'time' is 'trime'.
'trime' going within 'dent' is 'DETRIMENT'.
'put' is the link.
(Other definitions for detriment that I've seen before include "Possible loss" , "hurt" , "Harm, damage" , "Damage, loss" , "State of being harmed or damaged" .)