If I get an implant, can I really use it just like my original teeth?

I'm looking into dental implants because I was told I might have to have a tooth extracted due to cavities, but I'm really worried since I've never had one before.

The hospital says it can be used similarly to natural teeth, but I am curious about what it actually feels like.

In particular, I want to know if there is any discomfort when chewing food, and if I can eat hard foods to my heart's content.

I also heard that implants can cause problems if not managed properly, so I am curious about the difficulty of maintenance as well.