Objective:

To identify the influence of the Colombian health system on the professional autonomy of dentists who practice in public and private IPS (healthcare providing institutions) in Bogotá.

Methodology:

Comprehensive qualitative study, carried out with ethnographic tools such as the semi-structured interview. The analysis categories were: professional autonomy, health care models, decision making and contract system. The information was analyzed according to its category, context and content.

Results:

It was found that professional autonomy is limited due to the time given per patient (twenty minutes). Another limitation is the restriction to carry out procedures and, sometimes, the care protocols. Due to these limitations, dentists lose the skills and knowledge acquired in the academia, their abilities and self-confidence.

Discussion:

The Colombian health system limits the professional autonomy of dentists who work in public and private IPS. Professional autonomy, related to decision making, is an important axis in the healthcare practice. Exercising professional autonomy allows achieving ethical-clinical reasonings, developing skills and promoting the patients' well-being, that is, the bioethical commitment (beneficence, non-maleficence and justice), and respect.