Process for the preparation of a particulate dental filler composition, comprising the following steps:(a) introducing a mixture containing(a1) a silica precursor component, and(a2) a solution or dispersion of one or more compounds selected from compounds of aluminum, zinc, titanium, zirconium, tungsten, ytterbium, hafnium, bismuth, barium, strontium, silver, tantalum, lanthanum, tin, boron, and cerium, into a pulsed reactor;(b) converting the silica precursor component and the compounds into a particulate mixed oxide with a pulsed gas flow resulting from flameless combustion;(c) isolating the particulate mixed oxide from the pulsed reactor;(d) optionally subjecting the particulate mixed oxide to a heat treatment step; and(e) treating the optionally heat-treated particulate mixed oxide with a silane treatment agent for obtaining a particulate dental filler composition.