A dental adhesive composition for adhering dental restoratives or orthodontic appliances or for etching, the composition comprising - an ethylenically unsaturated acidic compound as component, - water as component, - a functionalized silane compound as component, - an initiator as component comprising a sensitising agent, - a non-surface treated filler as component, - optionally a solvent being different from component as component, - optionally an ethylenically unsaturated compound being different from compound as component, and - optionally additives selected from the group consisting of stabilizer(s), photobleachable colorant(s), fluoride release agent(s), pigments as component, the composition being prepared by either of the following methods: i) providing a composition comprising the following components: water, functionalized silane compound, non-surface treated silica filler, ii) adding an ethylenically unsaturated acidic compound, iii) optionally adding a solvent being different from water, iv) optionally adding an ethylenically unsaturated compound without acid functionality, v) mixing the composition until a homogeneous dispersion is obtained, vi) adding an initiator, optionally together with a sensitizer, and vii) optionally adding further additives, or i) providing a composition comprising the following components: water, functionalized silane compound, non-surface treated silica filler, ii) adding a reducing agent containing an amine group, such as an amine co-initiator, iii) optionally adding a solvent being different from water, iv) optionally adding an ethylenically unsaturated compound without acid functionality, v) mixing the composition, preferably until a homogeneous dispersion is obtained, vi) adding an ethylenically unsaturated acidic compound, vii) adding an initiator, optionally together with a sensitizer, and viii) optionally adding further additives, or i) providing a composition comprising the following components: water, functionalised silane compound, non-surface treated silica filler, ii) adding an ethylenically unsaturated acidic compound, iii) optionally adding a solvent being different from water, iv) optionally adding an ethylenically unsaturated compound without acid functionality, v) adding an initiator, optionally together with a sensitizer, vi) optionally adding further additives, and vii) mixing the composition, preferably until a homogeneous dispersion is obtained. - an ethylenically unsaturated acidic compound as component, - water as component, - a functionalized silane compound as component, - an initiator as component comprising a sensitising agent, - a non-surface treated filler as component, - optionally a solvent being different from component as component, - optionally an ethylenically unsaturated compound being different from compound as component, and - optionally additives selected from the group consisting of stabilizer(s), photobleachable colorant(s), fluoride release agent(s), pigments as component, i) providing a composition comprising the following components: water, functionalized silane compound, non-surface treated silica filler, ii) adding an ethylenically unsaturated acidic compound, iii) optionally adding a solvent being different from water, iv) optionally adding an ethylenically unsaturated compound without acid functionality, v) mixing the composition until a homogeneous dispersion is obtained, vi) adding an initiator, optionally together with a sensitizer, and vii) optionally adding further additives, i) providing a composition comprising the following components: water, functionalized silane compound, non-surface treated silica filler, ii) adding a reducing agent containing an amine group, such as an amine co-initiator, iii) optionally adding a solvent being different from water, iv) optionally adding an ethylenically unsaturated compound without acid functionality, v) mixing the composition, preferably until a homogeneous dispersion is obtained, vi) adding an ethylenically unsaturated acidic compound, vii) adding an initiator, optionally together with a sensitizer, and viii) optionally adding further additives, i) providing a composition comprising the following components: water, functionalised silane compound, non-surface treated silica filler, ii) adding an ethylenically unsaturated acidic compound, iii) optionally adding a solvent being different from water, iv) optionally adding an ethylenically unsaturated compound without acid functionality, v) adding an initiator, optionally together with a sensitizer, vi) optionally adding further additives, and vii) mixing the composition, preferably until a homogeneous dispersion is obtained.