Will partial dentures decrease the chances of bone loss in the jaw due to bone resorption?

Probably not!: Individuals at greatest risk for osteonecrosis of the jaw with bisphosphonates are those with recent surgery, inlcuding root canal, and more commonly with patients who recived radiation therapy to the jaw area. I did a medline search and could find no association with partial plates or dentures (after tooth extraction is remote!). Another option is Evista (raloxifene) or estrogen. No association!

Yes: Compared to full dentures, but the risk persists where the partials are.

No: A conventional partial denture has not been shown to prevent bone resorption that occurs when a tooth is pulled. If you have an implant placed to help support your partial, that will prevent bone loss.

Unlikely: As long as you have missing teeth, the bone will "melt away" wherever there is tooth loss. Furthermore, partial dentures break your existing teeth as they are held in by metal clasps that hook around your teeth. It is just a matter of time before the teeth break. Consider dental implants.

No: Actually, they will accelerate it in areas where there are no teeth to support it. Implant treatment is the only thing that willl help against this bone resorption.