A dental component attaches to an implant implanted in living jawbone having overlying gingiva. The implant has an apical end embedded within the jawbone and a gingival end near an interface of the gingiva and the jawbone. The dental component comprises a body having a lower region, a gingival region, and a supragingival region. The lower region has an end surface to engage the gingival end of the implant. The gingival region extends through the gingiva and has an outer surface for forming and maintaining an aperture in the gingiva that exposes the gingival end of the implant. The supragingival region has a top surface projecting above the gingiva. The dental component includes a bore for receiving a healing element and for receiving an impression element. The healing element includes a fastener the body to the implant so as to allow the gingiva to heal around the body for an extended period of time thereby forming the aperture. The impression element includes an upper segment extending above the supragingival region for receiving impression material and a lower segment securing the body to the implant. Consequently, the dental component serves as part of both a gingival healing component and an impression component.