They really don't hurt they economy or any other stuff. And the cool thing about them is that you can copy photos!!!

 Well it totally depends on how old you are and what stage your mouth is in. I am an old pro at this. I have been going to the orthodontist for 6 years and I still don't have braces. But don't worry!! You won't have to wait that long! I started going in the 2nd grade. Over the course of my orthodontic treatment (so far) I have had 16 teeth pulled and have had 4 sealants, a crown, and 2 fillings (due to the fact that my teeth grew in wrong- not poor hygiene). I still don't have my 12 year molars even though I'm 14 and I probably won't get braces for another 2 years minimum. Most likely the worst case senario for you won't be that bad. I didn't mean to scare you or rant and rave about how bad it is. I just got carries away. You are probably looking at a period of time somewhere between 6 and 18 months before you get ready for braces. Then you may have to have some prep for your braces such as bumpers and spacers. Sorry if I scared you. It isn't bad for most people! Really :)