Gippsland wildlife carer uses dental technique to save injured turtles

In Victoria's east, turtles aren't just crossing roads, they're crossing the operating table on a farm for a high-tech shell makeover.

Josh Neille has been caring for wildlife in Gippsland for more than a decade.

An electrician by trade, Mr Neille now spends much of his time rescuing animals injured on local roads.

For turtles with cracked shells, he uses dental resin, the same material used in tooth fillings, to restore their protective armour.

"The turtle comes in like your car does when you have an accident and gets a big dint in it, and then I'm the bloke that's doing that sort of stuff.

"So, you have to sand it all back and prime it up, get rid of all the contaminants and then you're pretty much patching it up with bog."

The procedure and recovery

Each turtle undergoes a lengthy process, including triage, infection control, taking antibiotics and shell cleaning before repairs begin.

Layers of primer, resin and glue are carefully applied to seal the cracks, then cured with a UV light.

"Depending on the severity of the shell damage is how long we keep it [the turtle] in for," Mr Neille said.

Mr Neille's latest patient, an eastern long-necked turtle, was in his care for about three months, recovering from severe fractures that exposed tissue and threatened the animal's vital organs.

Without antibiotics, careful monitoring and the resin repairs, Mr Neille feared the turtle might not have survived.

Mr Neille has treated nearly 15 turtles in the past year.

He also uses 3D scanning and printing to create perfectly-fitted replacements for missing or damaged sections of shells.

"I can modify that shell and fill in holes," Mr Neille said.

"And then in combination with the dental resins and the glues, we're using all these different methods and combining them to get the best outcome for that patient."

Dentist's support

The work was also made possible by Heyfield Family Dental Care's Yana Stevens, who donated spare dental supplies.

Dr Stevens said that if dental supplies were safe for humans, they would be safe for turtles.

"It felt good to help the animals, otherwise they would die from infection because [their] nerve endings are exposed and all the blood vessels in the shells," Dr Stevens said.

"So, we had to write down step-by-step how to use the materials. I knew he [Mr Neille] needed a UV light in order to set the material hard so it actually bonds to the structure.

Dr Stevens believed dental supplies also had the potential to assist other injured wildlife.

"[Mr Neille] knows my passion for the animals, and he has helped me to rescue some other animals before," she said.

Farm full of friends

Beyond turtles, Mr Neille's Tinamba farm is home to about 200 native animals, most notably wombats, possums, emus and birds.

Many animals require specialised care, and he coordinates with a network of carers on social media to ensure each receives appropriate treatment.

Mr Neille's social media presence, with almost 2 million Instagram followers, has helped road users identify injured wildlife, and they can contact him for advice.

And for these turtles, their healing journeys represent lives that might have otherwise been lost on Gippsland's busy country roads.

As one turtle returns to its habitat, another rolls in with a cracked shell at Mr Neille's animal hospital, queuing for its repair job.

With innovation and care, dental resin is giving these turtles something to smile about.