Olga in a similar zone prunes in winter, but she starts with the once-bloomers that won't break dormancy.

I don't think pruning in winter causes growth. However, it will cause any premature growth that would happen anyway to happen lower on the plant. This could waste energy if a tender rose makes premature basal growth. That's why it is bad policy to hack down HTs in the fall, as some clueless folks do.

One year when I topped my roses in early December, a lot of them got Botrytis canker in the pruning wounds that ran down the canes a foot or so.

I'd say go ahead and experiment as long as you don't cut too far down.

Since it is now fall, or almost in our areas, if your roses are a bit leggy or larger then you would like, you can safely cut them back 1/3. Save the pruning for spring.

The biggest problem I see would be you'd probably have to prune again in early spring to remove winter dieback occuring after the winter pruning.
Spring pruning done at the proper time just before the bushes leaf out, should still be soon enough you could see the canes well. A least that's my experience. I seldom have trouble seeing the individual canes when I prune.
When I prune is very different that when you will.

I do prune in winter hardy oncebloomers. They don't have dieback here after pruning. I usually start during Christmas break with gallicas, Albas, mosses, etc. Then later in winter move to Portlands, Austins and Hybrid Perpetuals. I do prune moderns and tender OGRs (Teas, Chinas) in early March. Moderns and southern OGRs can start growing after pruning, that is why you don't want do them in winter. You will have significant dieback. Hardy OGR roses don't start growing until days are long enough, so they are safe. I do prune my Knock Outs in March.
Olgs

I just made the mistake of pruning my rose bushes, and it'a December! I'm unsure of what types I'm dealing with and hope I didn't do any permenant damage. Does anyone have any tips for saving my roses?

Rookie, we have to know where you live in order to provide any kind of response.

Rookie
If you live in a cold winter climate you'll get winter dieback on most modern and tender roses.
You can't undo the pruning so you'll have to live with the results next spring. Any new dieback can just be pruned off. You should provide some winter protection in cold winter climates to at least protect the bud union and base of the bushes.

In warmer climates, premature pruning shouldn't have much of an affect on the bushes except to promote new growth if conditions warrant. All but the tenderest of roses are very forgiving.

This is how you learn, but in the future ask before you act as you can't undo damage already done!

You can cut them back one-third, but prune them - NO!

Also may be important to watch for stem canker on the cut stems. I have noticed that if I cut stems in cold (for here) wet weather the cut ends will get black streaks running down and dieback (even with sterilized pruners). I now only prune when it is dry and going to be dry for the following few days, and no longer get the blackening and dieback.

Just a thought.