A dental adhesive composition has an adhesive component and an activator component. The adhesive composition has a volatile organic solvent component, one or more polymerizable (meth)acrylate compounds optionally containing fillers, and a polymerization photoinitiator. The adhesive component may also be a substantially homogeneous mixture of one or more polymerizable (meth)acrylate compounds and an effective amount of a photoinitiator, without a solvent. The activator component includes an aromatic sulfinate salt and an activator component solvent. A method for adhering a restorative to a dental surface includes preparing the surface for restoration; applying a mixture of an adhesive component and an activator component to the prepared cavity, thereby forming a coated cavity surface; and, applying a direct or indirect dental restorative to the coated cavity surface.