Underkorrektion

Underkorrektion, or undercorrection, is a term used to describe a situation in which a corrective action does not fully achieve the intended adjustment, leaving residual error, imbalance, or a less-than-optimal outcome. The concept is used across several disciplines and can be either intentional or unintentional.

In dentistry and orthodontics, underkorrektion refers to deliberately or unintentionally leaving teeth or bite positions not fully corrected. It can be chosen to reduce risks of relapse, preserve function, or due to constraints in treatment time, patient cooperation, or bone structure. Residual misalignment may require retreatment or adjunctive procedures.

In ophthalmology, particularly after strabismus surgery, underkorrektion denotes a remaining ocular misalignment after the procedure. This may necessitate additional surgery, prism glasses, or alternate therapies to achieve alignment.

In medical treatment and dosing, underkorrektion can describe a conservative target achievement—where the intended therapeutic effect is only partly reached to minimize adverse events, or where planning and patient factors prevent full correction of a condition such as hypertension or blood glucose.

In research and data analysis, underkorrektion can refer to insufficient adjustment for confounders, measurement error, or other biases that prevent a true effect from being fully revealed, potentially biasing results toward null findings.

Causes of underkorrektion vary from deliberate risk management to practical limitations and patient-related factors. Outcomes range from acceptable stability to the need for further intervention. See also: overcorrection, relapse, calibration.